Full text of "Royal naval biography : or Memoirs of the services of all the flag-officers, superannuated rear-admirals, retired-captains, post-captains and commanders, whose names appeared on the Admiralty list of sea officers at the commencement of the year, or who have since been promoted; illustrated by a series of historical and explanatory notes. With copious addenda"

See other formats

VT ^f

ROYAL

NAVAL BIOGRAPHY;

OR,

;£Hemoft0 of tfjc g>ertrite£

OP ALL THE

FLAG-OFFICERS,

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS,
RETIRED-CAPTAINS,

POST-CAPTAINS,
AND COMMANDERS,

Whose Names appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea Officers at the commence-
ment of the late year, or who have since been promoted ;

Illustrated by a Series of

HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES,

Which will be found to contain an account of all the

NAVAL ACTIONS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS,

FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE LATE REIGN, IN 1/60,
TO THE PRESENT PERIOD.

WITH COPIOUS ADDENDA.

By JOHN MARSHALL (B),

LIEUTENANT IN THE HOYAL NAVY.

" Failures, however frequent, may admit of extenuation and apology. To have attempted
much is always laudable, even when the enterprise is above the strength that undertakes it.
To deliberate whenever I doubted, to enquire whenever 1 was ignorant, would have protracted
the undertaking without end, and perhaps without improvement. I saw that one enquiry only
gave occasion to another, that book referred to book, that to search was not always to find, and
to find was not always to be informed ; and that thus to pursue perfection, was, like the first
inhabitants of Arcadia, to chase the sun, which, when they had reached the hill where he
seemed to rest, was still beheld at the same distance from them." Johnson.

VOL. II.

Eoafcon :

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN,
PATERNOSTER ROW.

1824.

W. P«plet Printer,
Gf, C.u in ery Lane.

ROYAL NAVAL BIOGRAPHY ;

VOL. II.

CONTAINING MEMOIRS OF

ALL THE

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS,

RETIRED AND OTHER

POST-CAPTAINS

HIS MAJESTY'S FLEET,

WHOSE NAMES APPEARED ON THE ADMIRALTY LIST OF SEA

OFFICERS, AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF 1823, OR

WHO HAVE SINCE BEEN PROMOTED.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.— PART I.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

Page

Barlow, Sir Robert 44

Bazely, John 27

Brooking, Samuel 38

Bullen, Joseph 34

Carthew, William 9

Chambers, William - - 4

Cooke, John 17

Dacres, Richard 29

Dawson, John 22

Dobson, Man 33

Evans, Henry - - - 41

Fraser, Percy 47

Goldesbrough, Thomas 7

Graves, David ... 2

Graves, Richard 2

Hunter, Laucblan 7

Ingram, Nicholas
Kendall, John
Miller, Simon -
Monkton, John
Ogilvy, Sir William
Peard, Shuldham
Pearse, Thomas
Preston, D'Arcy
Smith, Isaac
Stow, David
Tatham, Sandford
Warre, Henry -
Watkins, Frederick
Willis, Richard
Wilson, Alexander

Page

RETIRED CAPTAINS.

Arden, Samuel V' 73

Bowen, James 94

Boyle, Hon. Courtenay - - 104

Browell, William 92

Carlyon, William 70

Creyke, Richard 72

Cunningham, Charles - - 75
Edge, William .... 93

Fanshawe, Robert - - 49

Fortescue, Hon. Matthew - - 71

George, Sir Rupert 70

Gibson, John 73

Grevillc, William Fulke - - 73

Grey, Hon. Sir George
Hamond, Sir Andrew Snape
Hartwell, Sir Francis John
Inglefield, John N.
Larkan, Robert
Middleton, Robert Gambier
Milbanke, Ralph
Millar, John «
Pattern, Charles
Shield, William
Smith, Matthew
Wolley, Isaac

CONTENTS.

POST- CAP TAINS.

Adam, Charles

Astle, George -

Austen, Francis William -

Ballard, Volant Vashon

Barker, George

Bathurst, Walter

Bazely, Henry

Bowyer, Richard Runwa -

Brace, Edward

Brenton, Sir Jahleel .. \\

Brings,' Thomas

Brisbane, Sir James

Broke, Sir Philip Bowes Vere

Broughton, John

Campbell, Charles

Campbell, Patrick

Capel, Hon. Thomas Bladen

Carthew, James

Chesshyre, John

Cumberland, William

Curry, Richard

Dash wood, Charles

Devonshire, John Ferris

Dicksbn, Edward Stirling -

Downman, Hugh '

DrumYnond, Adam

Dundas, Thomas

Dnndas, Hon. George H. L.

Evans, Andrew Fitzherbert

Feilding, Charles

Fitzgerald, Robert Lewis -

Forster, Samuel Peter

Fowke, George

Garrett, Henry

Granger, William

Grant, Charles

Hall, Robert -

Halliday, Michael

Hainond, Graham Eden

Hanwell, William

Hardy, Sir Thomas Masterman

Hanlyman, Lucius - /XV

Hay, John Baker - ' - '

Heathcote, Sir Henry

Hill, Henry - - .y-n,,

Hill, Marcus Samuel - . •&. ,

Hollis, Aiskew Paffard i<- .,

Honyman, Robert

Horton, Joshua Sydney

Hoste, Sir William

Junes, Bartholomew

Irby, Hon. Frederick Paul -

Katon, James

King, Edward Durnford

Page

222 Laroche, Christopher

152 Lewis, John Mason

274 Littlehales^Bendall Robert

187 Livingston, Sir Thomas

221 Lloyd, Robert - - -

239 Mackellar, John

260 Mackenzie, Adam
136 M'Kinley, George -
253 Maitland, Frederick Lewis

261 Maling, Thomas James

417 Manby, Thomas
400 Mansel, Robert

367 Manvers, Right Hon. Earl -

418 Matson, Richard - .
233 Mends, Sir Robert

290 Mudge,Zachary -

195 Muudy, George -

416 Nisbet, Josiah -

243 O'Bryen, Right Hon. Lord James

169 Ommanney, John Ac worth
459 Oughton, James -
450 Owen, Sir Edward W. C. R«
411 Parker, William

296 Peacocke, Richard -

188 Pearson, Richard Harrison

240 Philpot, Robert -
149 Raggett, Richard -
418 Ricketts, Tristram Robert

125 Rodd, John Tremayne - -

482 Rotheram, Edward

181 Ryves, George Frederick

151 Sayer, George (a)

149 Schomberg, Alexander Wilmot -

238 Scott, George -

230 Seymour, Sir Michael

300 Shepard, James Keith

240 Shirley, George James

228 Shortland, Thomas George

170 Skipsey, William -
198 Stiles, John -

153 Stuart, Henry -
245 Thompson, Norborne

• 152 Thomson, Lenox -
123 Tinling, Charles -
319 Tomlinson, Nicholas

• 488 Vansittart, Henry -
115 Vesey, Francis -
179 Waller, William -

• 247 Warren, Frederick -
470 White, John Chambers
181 White, George -

• 488 Wolfe, George -

• 448 Wollaston, Charles -

• 325

Page
247
324
283
244
242
214
234
441
381
302
199
360
183
213
270
307
333
184
212
303
221
126
438
416
150
289
213
441
152
298
13(5
350
325
145
294
150
135
482
488
228
306
294
482
362
430
329
237
327
414
230
233
310
325

ROYAL NAVAL BIOGRAPHY.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

JOHN KENDALL, ESQ.

TL HIS officer accompanied the Hon. Captain Byron, in the
Dolphin, of 20 guns, on a voyage of discovery round the
world, which was completed in twenty-two months and six
days *. He subsequently served under the same commander
on the coast of North America, where he was promoted to
the rank of Post-Captain, Nov. 24, 1778 ; since which time,
we believe, he has not been afloat. His superannuation as a
Rear- Admiral, took place July 3, 1795.
Residence. — Scarborough.

* On the 3d July, 1764, the Dolphin, of 20 guns, commanded by the
TIou John Byron, and the Tamar sloop of war, Captain Patrick Mouat,
sailed from Plymouth, on a voyage of discovery ; and on the 14th Jan.
1765, being in the lat. of 51e S., and long. 63° 22' W., some small islands
were discovered, in one of which was found a most excellent harbour,
where the ships anchored. Captain Byron, in compliment to the first Lord
of the Admiralty, gave it the name of Port Egmont. These islands were
surveyed, and taken possession of for Great Britain, by the name of Falk-
land's Islands. From hence the ships proceeded into the Pacific, and pur-
sued their course to the N. W. On the 7th June, in lat. 14° 5' S., long.
144° 58' W., a cluster of small islands was discovered, but every part of
their coasts found to be inaccessible, being bounded by stupendous rocks,
on which a most violent surf constantly broke. The first of these islands
Captain Byron named after his sovereign; the others were denominated
Prince of Wales's Island, Duke of York's Island, and the Islands of Dan-
ger. On the 2d July, in lat. 1° 18' S., long. 173° 46' W., another island
was discovered, which the officers of the expedition, in compliment to their
Commodore, named Byron's Island. From the latter they steered for
Tinian, and from thence to Batavia, the Cape of Good Hope, and England.
They anchored in the Downs, May 9, 1766.

VOL. II. B

2 MJPKRANM'ATRD REAR-ADMIRALS.

DAVID GRAVES, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Post-Captain, Sept. 9, 1/79;
commanded the London, a second-rate, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Graves, in the action off Cape Henry, Sept. 5,
1781 *; and was superannuated with his present rank, Feb.
21, 1799.

RICHARD GRAVES, ESQ.

THE family of Graves originally came into England from
the province of Gascony, in France ; and appear to have been
seated at a mansion house and estate called the Greves, or
Graves, in the parish of Beighley, co. Derby, as early as the
reign of Henry III. ; and from thence to have established
themselves at Little Wressil, in Yorkshire, about the time of
Edward IV.

The subject of this memoir is the son of a clergyman, and
the youngest of four brothers, all born in the county of Derry,
who went to sea at a very early age, and after a consider-
able length of services were advanced to the rank of Post-
Captains in the navy. Samuel,, the eldest, commanded the
Sceptre, of 64 guns, and greatly distinguished himself in the
two last actions between Sir Edward Hughes and M. de
Suffrein, Sept. 3, 1782, and June 20, 1783 f. Notwithstand-
ing his bravery on these occasions, he was afterwards placed
on the retired list ; and although a memorial, with Sir Ed-
ward Hughes' letter attached to it, was presented to his late
Majesty, by the other three brothers, at Weymouth, he had
not the good fortune to be restored to active service. John,
the second brother, also served his king and country most
faithfully and honorably, and likewise died a Superannuated
Rear-Admiral. The next, Thomas, was more fortunate,
being included in the great promotion of Flag-Officers, which
took place on the 1st Jan. 1801, in honor of the union be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland ; and afterwards created a
Knight of the Bath, for his gallantry in the battle off Copen-
hagen, on the 3d April, in that year J.

During the colonial war, Captain Richard Graves, being

* See note at vol. 1, p. 133. f See vol. 1, note at p. 424, et seq.
\ See vol. 1, aote *, at p. 385, et teg.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

on his way to New York with despatches, in the Swift, a
leaky brig, of 6 four-pounders and 35 men, with four feet
water in her hold, and the pumps choked ; engaged an ene-
my's vessel of 18 six-pounders and 120 men, which he beat
off, although twice a-board of each other during the action.
When beaten back in an attempt to carry the Swift by board-
ing, the enemy left thirty of their pistols on the deck of the
British vessel. The Swift was too much water-logged to
pursue the fugitive, even had her force been such as to have
warranted Captain Graves in so doing ; and the Blonde fri-
gate, which fell in with her on the following day, was obliged
to keep company until her arrival at the entrance of New
York, where she sunk. In this action, Captain Graves re-
ceived a severe wound. He was afterwards appointed to the
Belisarius, mounting 20 nine-pounders ; and in that ship,
after an hour's contest, compelled the Tartar, an American
vessel of the same force, to surrender, and her consort, the
Alexander of 22 guns, to seek safety in flight. About the
same period he also captured the Venus, of 14 guns and 45
men.

On the termination of the American war, the services of
Captain Graves being no longer required, he, with many other
gallant officers, was obliged to retire from the active duties
of a profession in which he had so highly distinguished him-
self ; and since that period he does not appear to have been
afloat. His post commission bears date Aug. 29, 1781 ;
and he was superannuated, with the rank of a Rear-Admiral,
June 18, 1804.

Our officer married Louisa Carolina, daughter and sole
heiress of Sir John Colleton, Bart. His son, Samuel Colleton
Graves, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel of the West Norfolk regi-
ment of local militia, and a member of the Society of the
Middle Temple, was the author of several political pamphlets,
published under the signature of Ulysses. Of his daughters,
the eldest married T. Radcliffe, Esq. ; the second is the lady
of Baron Vandersmissen, a Lieutenant-Colonel of artillerie au
cheval in the service of the King of the Netherlands ; a
Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and of the Order of Wil-
helm. The third was united, in December 1819, to her

4 SUPERANNUATED RKAR-ADMIRAL5.

relative, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James R. Colleton, Bart.
Mrs. Graves died, Dec. 2b, 1822.
Residence. — Brussels .

WILLIAM CHAMBERS, ESQ.
THIS officer is the fifth son of the late Thomas Chambers,.
Esq., of Studley, in Warwickshire ; at which place, and at
Tanworth, in the same county, his family have resided, on
their own estates, ever since the reign of Edward III. He
entered the naval service in 1758, as a Midshipman, on board
the Shrewsbury of 74 guns, under the auspices of Captain,
(afterwards Admiral) Sir Hugh Palliser, with whom he served
at the reduction of Quebec in 1759, and until the conclusion
of the war in 1763 *.

* The naval and military forces employed in tbe reduction of Quebec,
under the orders of Vice-Admiral Saunders, and Major-General Wolfe,
arrived off the island of Orleans, in the river St. Lawrence, June 26, 1759,
and on the following day the troops were landed. On the 28th, an attempt
was made by the enemy to destroy the fleet, by sending down the river
seven fire-rafts of an uncommon description ; but owing to the vigilance
of the British commander, and the excellent disposition of his ships, the
design proved abortive, although the channel was crowded with vessels,
and the rapidity of the stream favored the attempt. On the 28th July,
the French made a similar effort, but of a more formidable nature. Nearly
one hundred rafts of timber, charged with combustibles of every kind, and
driven by the course of the stream, seemed to threaten inevitable destruc-
tion to the British fleet ; but the good fortune of Vice-Admiral Saunders
again prevailed, and the alarming preparations of the enemy were frus-
trated. In all the subsequent events of the memorable siege of Quebec,
Vice-Admiral Saunders, and those under his command, appear to have
borne a distinguished share ; but it would be difficult now, if not invidious,
to decide how far they contributed to the general success of the enter-
prise. The blaze of glory which deservedly crowns the memory of
Wolfe, obscures the fame of his brethren in arms. It cannot, however, he
doubted, but Vice-Admiral Saunders, by his able disposition of the
ships, his zeal for the service, and his perfect knowledge of the art of war,
materially contributed to the reduction of the place. On the 18th Sep-
tember, he had the honor of signing, with Brigadier-General Townshend,
who had succeeded to the command of the army, the articles of capitu-
lation granted to the French garrison, by which this memorable expedition
was terminated with complete success, though with the loss of the im-
mortal Wolfe, and many of his gallant associates. The town was taken
possession of by a naval detachment, under Captain Palliscr.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 5

During the ensuing peace, we find Mr. Chambers serving
in the Preston of 50 guns, commanded by Captain Alan
Gardner, and bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Parry, com-
mander-in-chief on the Jamaica station. He subsequently
joined Commodore Gambler in the Salisbury ; and by that
officer was made a Lieutenant into the Mermaid frigate, on
the coast of North America, in 1771 j but some time after
re-joined his patron, and returned with him to England.

At the commencement of the American war, Mr. Cham-
bers was appointed second Lieutenant of the Active frigate,
one of the squadron under Sir Peter Parker, destined to act
against Gharlestown, in South Carolina; which ship had the
honor of leading her consorts to the attack made on Sulli-
van's Island, June 28, 1776 *. The Active, on that occasion,
had her first Lieutenant (Pike) killed, and 8 men wounded.

V J 7

From the Active, our officer removed as first Lieutenant,
into the Montreal frigate, Captain Douglas ; and in June 1778,
he was nominated to the command of the flotilla on Lake
Champlain, where he continued till the peace in 1783, when
he was sent home with despatches from Sir Frederick Hal-
dimand, the military commander -in-chief j through whose
recommendations he was immediately promoted to the rank
of Commander : and a statement of his meritorious conduct
on many trying occasions being subsequently laid before the
King, he was rewarded with a commission as Post-Captain,
dated Aug. 15th in the same year. His superannuation as a
Rear-Admiral took place Nov. 21, 1805.

Residence.— Rigby, Warwickshire.

-j'i

ISAAC SMITH, ESQ.

' ii9io H fvrm .iii'.i tiV.
THIS officer entered the naval service about the year 1766,

and served for some time on board the Grenville, a brig com-
manded by Cook, the celebrated circumnavigator, who was at
that period employed as marine surveyor of Newfoundland ;
and whom he afterwards accompanied in the Endeavour, on a

* See Vol. I, p. 95, where the following correction and additions
should be made: line 2, for 1777, read 1775; line 9, after May, insert
1776 ; line 24, after Experiment, insert Active.

<J SUFERANNUATJBD RKAR- ADMIRALS.

royage to the South Sea, for the purpose of observing the
transit of Venus over the sun's disk *.

His commission as Post- Captain bears date Dec. 1, 1787 J
and he subsequently commanded the Perseverance of 36 guns,
in which ship he served for several years on the East India
station, to which he had proceeded with Commodore Corn-
wallis in 1789.

At the promotion of Flag-Officers in 1807, Captain Smith,
who was at that time severely afflicted with the hepatitis,

* The voyages of Captain Cook must be so familiar to the generality
of our readers, that a very slight account of the one alluded to above may
suffice ; and indeed it would be inconsistent with the nature of this work*
to enter into a detail which must exceed all moderate limits.

It having been calculated by astronomers that a transit of Venus over
the sun's disk would happen in 1769, and that the best place for observing
it would be in some part of the South Sea, the Royal Society judging this
a matter of great consequence in astronomy, addressed a memorial to the
King on the subject, entreating that a vessel might be ordered at the ex-
pence of Government, for the conveyance of suitable persons to observe
the transit. To this memorial a favourable answer was returned, and the
Endeavour, a bark of 370 tons, was purchased into the service for the
voyage. This vessel, commanded by Lieutenant James Cook, and having
onboard Mr. Green of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, Mr. Banks
(the late President of the Royal Society), and Dr. Solander, a Swedish
gentleman, who had made much proficiency in every branch of natural
history under the instructions of the celebrated Linnaeus, sailed from
Plymouth Sound on the 26th Aug. 1768, and arrived in Matavia Bay,
Otaheite, April 13, 1769. On the 3d of June, the expected transit was
observed with great advantage. A particular account of this great astro-
nomical event may be seen in the sixty-first volume of the Philosophical
Transactions.

Lieutenant Cook remained at Otaheite until the 13th July, and then
went in search of several islands which he discovered. He afterwards pro-
ceeded to the inhospitable coasts of New Zealand, and on the 10th Oct.
1 770, arrived at Batavia, with a vessel almost worn out, and a crew much
fatigued and very sickly. The repairs of the ship obliged him to continue
at this unhealthy place until the 27th Dec., in which time he lost many of
his seamen, and more on the passage to the Cape of Good Hope, which
place he reached on the 15th March, 1771. From the Cape our navigator
sailed to St. Helena, where he arrived on the 1st May, and staid till the
4th to refresh. On the 12th June he anchored in the Downs, after an ab-
sence of nearly three years, in which time he had experienced every dan-
der incident to a voyage of such length, displaying on all occasions a
mind that was equal to every perilous enterprise, and to the boldest and
most successful efforts of navigation and discovery.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 7

obtained the superannuation of a Rear- Admiral. He resides,
if we mistake not, with the widow of his lamented friend
Captain Cook, at Merton Abbey, Surrey.

DAVID STOW, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Commander at Jamaica, after the
defeat of M. de Grasse by Sir George B. Rodney, April 12,
1782. His post commission bears date Dec. 1, 1787 ; and
he was superannuated with the rank of Rear- Admiral Oct. 9,
1807.

Residence. — Berwick.

THOMAS GOLDESBROUGH, ESQ.
POST commission dated Dec. 1, 1787- Superannuated
Oct. 10, 1807.
Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

LAUCHLAN HUNTER, ESQ.

THIS officer was a Lieutenant in Rodney's action, April 12,
1782 ; commanded the Antelope of 14 guns on the Jamaica
station, in 1783 ; and obtained the rank of Post-Captain, Sept.
21, 1790. During the revolutionary war we find him employed
in the impress service, at North Yarmouth. He was placed
on the list of Superannuated Rear Admirals, May 12, 1808.

Residence — Yarmouth, Norfolk.

NICHOLAS INGRAM, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant by Admiral Byron in
1778, and appointed to the Royal Oak, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker, who promoted him to the rank
of Commander in 1780; from which period he commanded
the Star brig until the peace of 1783. His next appointment
was in Oct. 1790, to the Shark sloop of war ; and on the 3d
of the following month he became a Post-Captain. From
1797 till the peace of Amiens ; and from the renewal of the
war in 1803 till the date of his superannuation as a Rear-
Admiral (May 21, 1808), he commanded the Weymouth dis-
trict of Sea Fencibles. He married, in 181 1, Elizabeth Ann,
daughter of the late Booth, Esq. of Bristol.

Residence. — Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Devon.

8 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

RICHARD WILLIS, ESQ.

THIS officer, a brother, we believe, of Dr. Willis, a gentle-
man celebrated for his skilful treatment of insane patients,
was made Post, Nov. 3, 1790 ; and obtained his present rank,
June 14, 1808.

Residence — Petworth, Sussex.

HENRY WARRE, ESQ.

IF we mistake not, this officer was born in Portugal, and
entered the naval service under the protection of Commodore
Johnstone. After serving for some time as first Lieutenant
of the Trusty, a 50-gun ship, bearing the broad pendant of
Commodore Cosby, on the Mediterranean station, he was pro-
moted to the rank of Commander, in the Kingsfisher sloop
of war. During the Spanish armament, he commanded the
Swan of 14 guns, stationed in the Channel. Ris post com-
mission bears date Nov. 22, 1790. In the summer of 1793,
we find him serving on board the flag-ship of Vice-Admiral
J. Sanches de Britto, commander of the Portuguese squa-
dron that came to England with Earl Howe ; and in the fol-
lowing year, commanding the Mermaid, a 32-gun frigate, in
which he proceeded to the West Indies.

On the 10th Oct. 1795, Captain Warre fell in with an
armed ship and a brig, off Grenada ; the latter pushed into
a small bay and got a-ground; and the Mermaid, in the
eagerness of pursuit, ran on shore close alongside her ; the
vessel was got off, and proved to be the Brutus, of 10 guns,
belonging to the French republic ; her crew, consisting of 50
men, together with 70 soldiers, intended to support the rebel-
lion in Grenada, landed and escaped. Captain Warre chased
the ship the whole of the next day, but lost sight of her in the
night. On the 14th he again discovered, pursued, and after
an action of half an hour, captured her. She proved to be
the Republican, of 18 guns and 250 men (including troops),
20 of whom were killed, and several wounded. On board
this vessel was a French General, proceeding to assume the
command in Grenada. The Mermaid had 1 man slain, and
3 wounded.

' 'f «'-'M..r-J P ••

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

Captain Warre subsequently commanded the Adamant of
50 guns ; he was placed on the list of Superannuated Rear-
Admirals, Aug. 31, 1810.

Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

WILLIAM CARTHEW, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Post-Captain, May 10, 1794; and
in the same year commanded the Redoubt, of 20 guns, sta-
tioned at Sheerness as a floating battery. In 1795 he was
appointed to the Brilliant, a small frigate, on the North Sea
station ; from which he removed into the Regulus, 44, and
proceeded to the West Indies. On his passage thither, Nov.
2, 1796, he captured El San Pio, a Spanish corvette of 18
guns. Captain Carthew appears to have left the Regulus on
the Jamaica station, in 1798. He was superannuated, with
the rank of Rear-Admiral, Aug. 18, 1812.

Agent. — Sir F. M. Ommanney.

SANDFORD TATHAM, ESQ.

DURING the Russian armament, in 1791, this officer com-
manded the Argo, a 44-gun ship, armed en flute, in North
America. In 1793, he was appointed to the Dromedary,
store-ship, and accompanied the expedition under Sir John
Jervis and Sir Charles Grey, to the West Indies.

On the 8th Feb. 1794, whilst employed in covering the de-
barkation of the third brigade of the army on the side of Cas
de Navires, in the island of Martinique, the Dromedary, ven-
turing too near the battery on Point Negro, received a shot
between wind and water, and a second through her upper
works, which killed 1 man and wounded 4, among whom
was Captain Tatham.

Our officer was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain,
Nov. 4, 1794; employed on the Impress service, in 1798 and
1799; and obtained the superannuation of a Rear-Admiral,
Dec. 7, 1813.

Residence. — Armitage, near Rugeley, Staffordshire.

',[$£

FREDERICK WATKINS, ESQ.

SOON after the commencement of the French revolutionary

••' •' .:•'-! •

10 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

war, in 1793* we find^this officer serving as first Lieutenant
of the Blanche frigate, commanded by the late Captain Faulk-
nor, and employed on the Leeward Islands station.

On the 4th Jan. 1795, that heroic Commander, being on a
cruise off Point-a-Petre, at 7 A. M., observed a large republi-
can frigate coming out of the harbour, with a schooner in
company. Captain Faulknor immediately stood towards the
enemy, and continued to do so until nearly within gun-shot
of Fort Fleur d'Epee, the scene of his former glory *, when
he tacked, hove to, and filled occasionally. Finding the
French frigate disinclined to venture out from under the bat-
teries, he made sail to examine a schooner which was coming
down along shore ; she proved to be an American from Bour-
deaux, and appearing suspicious, was detained and taken in
tow, the Blanche proceeding under easy sail, first towards
Mariegalante, and afterwards stretching over for Dominica.
At Sk 30' P. M., the French frigate was seen about two
leagues astern ; upon which the schooner was cast off,
and the Blanche made sail to meet the enemy. At half
past twelve o'clock, after some manoeuvring and an ex-
change of broadsides, when passing on opposite tacks, a
most bloody and desperate action was commenced within
pistol-shot; and at one A. M., Captain Faulknor ran the
Blanche across the enemy's bows, and lashed the bowsprit
of the latter to the capstern of his own ship. A brisk fire
was now kept up from such guns as could be brought to bear,
and musketry, which the enemy returned from his quarter-
deck guns, run in a-midships and pointed fore and aft, also
from small arms in his tops and elsewhere. At this period
the main and mizen-masts of the Blanche were shot away ;
and the French made an attempt to board her, but were re-
pulsed with great loss. At a quarter past two, his antagonist
having dropped astern, Captain Faulknor ordered another
hawser to be got up, with which he lashed the French frigate
to his quarter, and whilst in the act of doing so, was shot
through the heart by a musket-ball. On his death, the com-
mand naturally devolved on Lieutenant Watkins, who conti-
nued the action in a manner that did him immortal honor.

" In our first volume, at pp. 711 and 840, mil he found an account of
the storming of Fort Fleur d'Epde, by a gallant band, headed by Captain
Faulknor, on the 12th April, 1/94.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 11

The Blanche, having only her fore-mast standing, now paid
off before the wind ; towing, and plying with incessant and
well-directed vollies of musketry, her equally determined
opponent. None of the great guns could be brought to bear,
until a part of the stern-frame was blown out ; when the ene-
my's ship was so effectually raked, that all her masts were
soon shot away. Still did the brave Frenchmen persevere in
their resistance ; and it was not until a quarter past five, that
they hailed to announce their surrender.

It was not yet day -light ; neither of the ships were able to
put a boat in the water. Under these difficulties, nothing re-
mained but to get on board the prize, by means of the haw-
ser ; this was successfully performed by Lieutenant (now Sir
David) Milne and 10 seamen, whose weight bringing the
bight of the rope into the water, obliged them to swim part
of the distance, when they gained her deck, and found her
to be la Pique of 40 guns, besides several brass swivels on
her gunwale, and 360 men, of whom 67 were killed, 1 10
wounded, and about 9 supposed to have been drowned by
falling into the sea when attempting to board the Blanche ;
whose loss, considering the length and violence of the conflict,
was but small. It consisted of 8 killed and 21 wounded *.
The fall of her commander was, however, deplored by every
friend to the service ; his courage and determined bravery
had been often tried, and always with success ; indeed the
English cause in the West Indies, at that period, could hardly
have received a deeper wound than it did by his death.

The gallantry of this action was long the theme of praise.
An Interlude, called " The Death of Captain Faulknor"
was performed at Covent Garden Theatre ; and a monument
to his memory, with a suitable inscription, was erected in St.
Paul's Cathedral, by a vote of the House of Commons.

As a reward for his distinguished bravery in the above
glorious affair, Lieutenant Watkins was promoted to the rank
of Post-Captain, by commission dated April 26, 1795 ; and
appointed to the command of the Resource, of 28 guns, in
which ship he continued about two years, on the Leeward

* The Blanche mounted 38 carriage guns, and had on board at the
commencement of the battle only 198 men ; 14 of her crew being absent
in prizes. With respect to size, she was 196 tons lea« than her opponeut.

12 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

Islands and Jamaica stations, and cruised with very consider-
able success against the enemy. On the 10th Dec. 1796, in
company with the Mermaid frigate, he captured the General
Leveau, French corvette of 16 guns, near St. Domingo.

In the spring of 1799, our officer commissioned the Ne-
reide of 36 guns ; and on the 2d March, in the following year,
captured la Vengeance privateer, of 16 guns and 1/4 men,
in the Bay of Biscay ; the next day he re-captured an Ame-
rican ship, with a cargo of coffee, sugar, and tobacco, valued
at 30,000/. The Nereide was afterwards ordered to the
West Indies.

On the llth Sept. 1800, Captain Watkins beingon a cruise
off Curac.oa, had the good fortune to acquire information that
1500 French troops from Guadaloupe had made good their
landing a short time before, and were at that very moment in
actual contest with the Dutch inhabitants, who claimed the
protection of his Britannic Majesty. With the most prompt
decision, he pushed for the harbour, landed his men and some
cannon, occupied the forts, and thereby induced the French
to evacuate the island on the 22d. In the mean time, the
Governor entered into a capitulation, by which Cura§oa and
its dependencies, together with the vessels in the harbour, in
all forty-four sail, and such property as was on board of them
on the 10th, were surrendered to the Nereide.

Captain Watkins returned to England, in Feb. 1801 ; and
from that period we lose sight of him until the beginning of
1808, when he was appointed to the Majestic of 74 guns;
from the command of which ship he was afterwards dismissed
by the sentence of a court-martial, for a breach of naval
discipline towards the late Admiral Wells. He was super-
annuated, with the rank of Rear- Admiral, June 1 1, 1814.

In 1809, our officer published a work entitled, " The
Young Naval Hero ; or Hints to Parents and Guardians, on
educating and preparing Young Gentlemen for his Majes-
ty's Navy," 8vo.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

. . • .-«,' :: .• :

JOHN MONKTON, ESQ.

THIS officer entered the naval service in 1765, and served
upwards of eleven years as a Midshipman and Master's-

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 13

Mate, on board the Chatham of 50 guns, and Lark, Aurora.
Carysfort, Maidstone, and Boreas frigates. The two former
ships were employed principally at the Leeward Islands. His
removal from the Aurora, to make room for an Admiralty
Midshipman, proved a fortunate circumstance for Mr.Monkton,
as that vessel was soon after lost, on her passage to India, and
all on board perished. In the Carysfort he saw much hard ser-
vice, and had several narrow escapes : the first was in 1771?
when, being on her return from Pensacola, and the Havannah, to
Jamaica, the ship, owing to the perverseness and ignorance of
the pilot, ran ashore in the night, upon the Martyr reefs, in
the Gulph of Florida ; where her situation was such as pro-
mised little chance of being able to save the ship, and at
first, not much hope of preserving the lives of the crew.
However, after nine days incessant labour, she was at length
got out from amongst those dangerous rocks, through a very
difficult and intricate channel, and carried to Charlestown in
South Carolina, under jury masts, with the loss of her guns,
and most of the provisions and stores.

In the ensuing year the Carysfort was ordered to England,
and on her passage thither from Jamaica, was obliged to
throw all her guns overboard in a heavy gale of wind. After
refitting, she was again sent to the West Indies, where she
encountered a violent hurricane, during which she lost her
first Lieutenant, five seamen, and all her masts, besides being
once more obliged to part with her guns.

The Carysfort was paid off at Chatham, in Sept. 1773;
and Mr. Monkton soon after joined the Maidstone, in which
frigate he continued about three years, and was present at
the capture of more than two hundred sail of vessels, princi-
pally on the Jamaica station ; from whence he returned to
England, in the Boreas, about the autumn of 1777-

On the 19th Nov. following, Mr. Monkton was promoted
to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the Three Sis-
ters, an armed ship, hired from the merchants, and em-
ployed in giving protection to the trade on the coast of Scot-
land, and about the Orkney and Shetland Islands. After
being thus employed for a period of two years, he was
appointed second Lieutenant of the Vestal frigate, then
fitting at Deptford ; and subsequently sent to the Newfound-
land station, where she captured and destroyed many of the

14 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

enemy's vessels, and among others the Mercury, an Ameri-
can packet, from Philadelphia ; on board of which was Mr.
Henry Laurens, formerly President of the Congress, bound
on an embassy to France, Spain, and Holland. The de-
spatches found in the possession of this Envoy, determined
the British ministry to issue an immediate declaration of war
against the latter power, and to commit their bearer as a
state prisoner to the Tower.

In 1781, the Vestal, then commanded by the Hon. G. C.
Berkeley, accompanied Vice-Admiral Darby to the relief of
Gibraltar *, where she particularly distinguished herself
against the enemy's gun-boats, two of which she destroyed
under the guns of the fortress of Ceuta.

Some time after the performance of this service, Captain
Berkeley, accompanied by the whole of his officers and crew,
removed into the Recovery of 32 guns, which ship formed
part of the squadron under Vice-Admiral Barrington, at the
capture of a French convoy, from Brest bound to the East
Indies, in April 1782. She was also with Lord Howe, at the
relief of Gibraltar, towards the close of the same year f.

The Recovery being paid off at the peace in 1783, Mr.
Monkton remained on half pay till March 1784, when he
was appointed first Lieutenant of the Ardent 64, stationed
as a guard-ship at Portsmouth, where she remained for a
period of four years; during which no incident occurred
worthy of particular notice.

During the Spanish armament, we find Lieutenant Monk-
ton serving on board the Windsor Castle, a second rate,
bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Sawyer. His next appoint-
ment was to be first Lieutenant of the Niger frigate, com-
manded by his friend the Hon. Captain Berkeley, who had
for a considerable time filled the office of Survey or- General
of the Ordnance, and recently been honored with a com-
mision of the highest importance, as President of a board
of engineer officers, for the purpose of enquiring into the
abuses and frauds committed against government in the
West Indies ; a service he performed with honor to himself,
and to the entire satisfaction of his Majesty's ministers.

On the 10th March, 1793, Mr. Monkton commissioned the

» See vol. 1, p. 4, and note j, at p. 33. t §ee vol. 1, p. 17-

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 15

Marlborough of 74 guns, then fitting at Chatham for Cap-
tain Berkeley, and afterwards attached to the grand fleet
under Earl Howe. This was our officer's last appointment
as a Lieutenant ; for in consequence of that nobleman's re-
presentation of his gallant conduct in the glorious action
of June 1, 1794 *, he was immediately afterwards pro-
moted to the rank of Commander, and appointed to act
as captain of the Marlborough, during the absence of Captain
Berkeley, whose place he had so ably filled during the latter
part of that memorable conflict f.

Owing to the change which about this time took place in
the administration of naval affairs, a promise which Captain
Monkton had obtained from Lord Chatham, of advancement to
post rank, was not realized, although he retained the com-
mand of the Marlborough for nearly twelve months; but for-
tunately for him he was afterwards appointed pro tempore,
to the Colossus, another 74 ; in which ship he distinguished
himself off 1'Orient, June 23, 1795 ; and by his exertions
greatly contributed to the capture of three French line-of-
battle ships ; an account of which will be found in our first
Vol. p. 246, et seq. The Colossus on that occasion had 35
men killed and wounded, which appears to have been nearly
one-fourth of the total loss sustained by the British squadron.

Captain Monkton's post commission bears date June 29,
1795 ; from which period, with the exception of about two
months in the Formidable of 90 guns, he was not again em-
ployed until the latter end of 1 797 ; when he obtained the
command of la Lutine frigate, fitting at Woolwich for the

* See vol. I, p. 663 * *.

f The Marlborough had got into action ; and whilst engaged with the
Tinprtueux of 78 guns, and Mucius 74, the former of which ships she had
completely dismasted, the Montagne of 120 guns came under her stern
aud poured in a raking broadside, which killed and wounded many of her
men, and caused much other mischief. It was at this moment that Cap-
tain Berkeley received a severe wound, which obliged him to resign the
command of the ship to Lieutenant Monkton, who continued to fight her
with the utmost skill and bravery. The Marlborough on this occasion
had all her lower masts shot away, and no less than 137 men killed and
wounded. Lieutenant Monkton was nominally promoted into the Calypso
sloop of war, which vessel was lost on her return from Jamaica, and all
e« board perished.

](J SOPKKANNUATKD REAR-ADMIRALS.

North Sea station, where he served under the orders of Lojc!
Duncan, and made many captures.

His next and last appointment was at the close of 1?99>
to the Mars of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Hear- Admiral
Berkeley ; and he continued to serve as Flag-Captain to that
officer until Jan. 1801 ; when a misunderstanding having
arisen between the Rear-Admiral and Earl St. Vincent, com-
mander-in- chief of the Channel Fleet, the former resigned
his command, and Captain Monkton was in consequence
superseded. His superannuation took place June 18, 1814.

Rear-Admiral Monkton remained a batchelor until he was
more than forty years of age, when he married Miss Char-
lotte Slade, of Burstock, co. Dorset, first cousin to the pre-
sent Lieutenant- General Slade. By this lady, who died
May 6, 1806, he had four children, three of whom are now
living. His second wife was Charlotte, widow of his old
messmate, Mr. Mackie, Purser of the ill-fated Ardent *, and
only daughter of George Button, Esq., a gentleman of con-
siderable property, who had formerly kept an academy at
Deptford. He married, lastly, Dec. 14, 1818, Elizabeth
Patience, daughter of Thomas P. Phillips, of Tiverton, co.
Devon, Esq., and sister of Thomas J. Phillips, of Landau
House, near Launceston, Cornwall, Esq.

Residence. — Havre de Grace.

i, '1 .•>. \.» jioijfpyx'j '>i\l iltiw ;'

* In the course of the foregoing memoir, we have alluded to the fate of

the Aurora and Calypso. Of the other vessels in which Rear-Admiral
Monkton served, it is remarkable, that no less than six were afterwards
lost : viz. the Lark, in America, during the colonial war ; the Three Sis-
ters, in the North Sea ; the Ardent, burnt at sea ; the Marlborough, wrecked
on the coast of France ; the Colossus, on the Scilly Isles ; and la Lutine,
on the Dutch coast. Whilst in the latter, he discovered and corrected an
error in the compasses, which he explained to his successor, the unfor-
tunate Captain Skynner ; but that officer paid no attention to his advice,
and actually undid what Captain Monkton had completed, saying that
compasses were of no use in the North Sea. However, the contrary
proved to be the case. La Lutine sailed from Yarmouth Roads at nine
A. M. on the 9th Oct. 1799, with a fair wind for the Texel, having a consi-
derable sum of money on board ; and in the course of the ensuing night,
struck on the outer bank of the Vlie passage, where all hands perished,
with the exception of two men taken up alive, one of whom died soon after.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 17

JOHN COOKE, ESQ.

THIS officer was born at Kirby, near Norwich, in 1/50,
and first embarked in the royal navy as a Midshipman, on
board the Raisonable of 64 guns, commanded by Captain
Maurice Suckling, the worthy uncle, and first professional
patron of our lamented hero, the renowned Nelson, who,
with several other Norfolk youths, joined that ship about the
same period.

The Raisonable was one of the ships commissioned in
1770, on the apprehension of a rupture with Spain, on ac-
count of the very extraordinary conduct of that .power rela-
tive to the Falkland Islands *. On the termination of the
dispute, she was paid off, and Captain Suckling was, in May,
1771 > appointed to the command in the river Medway ; but
Mr. Cooke not relishing so idle and uninteresting a life as
that of a Midshipman in a guard-ship, applied for and ob-
tained permission to join the Crescent frigate, then fitting
for the Leeward Islands station. In that ship he served,
mostly as Master's-Mate, until Aug. 1774, when she was put
out of commission at Woolwich.

We next find him in the Conquestador, 64, guard-ship, at

* The author of the History of England, in a series of letters from a
nobleman to his son, generally, though erroneously attributed to Lord
Lyttleton, gives the following concise account of the transaction : — " In
the course of the summer, the Spaniards sent out some ships, and seized
upon Falkland's Islands, where the English had lately made a settlement,
and erected a fort ; and this violation of peace had nearly involved us in
a war with that nation. A negociation, however, took place, and the
Spaniards restored the islands. It was privately stipulated that they
should be afterwards evacuated by Great Britain ; and since that time no
settlement has been made upon them. The pens of the political writers
were employed to magnify or diminish the consequence of these islands,
according as they were engaged for or against the ministry. Junius, a
popular and elegant writer, whose real name has never yet been disco-
vered, was at this time a formidable opponent to administration ; and Dr.
Samuel Johnson, whose moral and critical writings are above all praise,
ranged himself on their side. On the whole, if the affront to the nation
be overlooked, it does not appear that the possession of these islands was
worth contending for." The late Admiral Macbride, who visited them
about the year 1766, says : " We found a mass of islands and broken
lands, of which the soil was nothing but a bog, with no better prospect
than that of barren mountains, beaten by storms almost perpetual."

VOL. II. C

18 SUPKRANNUATKD REAR-ADMIRALS.

Chatham, where he remained but a short time. In April,
1776, Captain Suckling, then Comptroller of the Navy, pre-
sented him with a warrant appointing him Master of the
Hornet sloop, fitting at Woolwich for the Jamaica station, of
which vessel the late gallant Lord Collingwood was then
Lieutenant.

Mr. Cooke continued in the Hornet until Feb. 1, 1778,
when he joined the Glasgow, a 20-gun ship, commanded by
the late Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart., with whom he
afterwards removed successively into the Sibyl frigate, and
Jupiter of 50 guns, of which latter vessel he was appointed
a Lieutenant immediately after the action between Commo-
dore Johnsfcone and M. de Suffrein, in Porto Praya Bay,
April 16, 1781 *.

In May 1782, the Jupiter was ordered to convey Admiral
Pigot to his command in the West Indies ; and soon after
her arrival there, was sent on a cruise off the Havannah,
where she captured several of the enemy's vessels. Hostili-
ties ceasing soon after, she returned to England, and was put
out of commission July 28, 1783.

During the Dutch and Spanish armaments, in 1787 and
1790, Lieutenant Cooke served under the flag of Sir John
Jervis, afterwards Earl of St. Vincent, in the Hannibal, 74,
and Prince, a second-rate. At the commencement of the
French war in 1793, he was appointed first Lieutenant of
the Weazle sloop of war ; and in November following, to the
Woolwich troop-ship, attached to the armament under Sir
John Jervis, then about to sail for the West Indies, where he
was removed into the Undaunted frigate ; and on the 5th
May, 1794, promoted to the rank of Commander, in the In-
spector of 16 guns.

Whilst in this latter vessel, Captain Cooke was employed
co-operating with the army in the re-occupation of Gauda-
loupe, &c. ; affording protection to the trade of the Virgin
Islands ; and in various other services, requiring considerable

* The attack made on Commodore Johnstone's squadron, by M. de
Suffrein, we have already described in oar memoir of Admiral Sir Henry-
Darby (vol. 1, note at p. 268, et seq.) : the Jupiter was on that occasion
opposed to a French 74, which she obliged to cut and sheer off : indeed,
throughout the whole of the affair she was very materially distinguished
for the power and force of her fire.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 19

activity. The following address conveys a sufficient idea of
the manner in which he acted on those occasions :

" Tortola Council Chamber, May 13, 1795-

" Sir. — It Laving been publicly announced that you are speedily to be re-
moved from your present station in order to join the Admiral, the Mem-
bers of his Majesty's Board of Council for the Virgin Islands, who enter-
tain with me every just sense of your merits as a British officer, and of the
honorable manner in which you have discharged the duties which you
were sent hither to perform, have unanimously determined that you shall
not depart from this colony without bearing with you a testimony of their
gratitude. They have, therefore, conferred on me the grateful task of
communicating to you by letter, their acknowledgments for the steady
zeal you have displayed on all occasions [and more especially in times
when alarms and threatened dangers have worn the most serious aspect,]
in readily co-operating with the President in the adoption of all such mea-
sures as were deemed expedient for our safety and protection ; and small
as is the force of the ship under your command, we have yet the satis-
faction to say, that in consequence of your gallantry and good conduct,
and of your officers and crew following your example, our enemies have
been deterred from executing their threats of attacking this colony, and
that you have thereby become the efficient means of our defence. Wish-
ing you health, prosperity, and the enjoyment of every felicity, I have the
honor and satisfaction to subscribe myself, with every consideration and
respect, Sir,

" Your most faithful, and most obedient humble Servant,

(Signed) " GEO. LEONARD, President.
" To Captain Cooke, H. M. S. Inspector."

This address was presented to Captain Cooke on the occa-
sion of his receiving a commission from the late Sir Benjamin
Caldwell, commander-in- chief pro tempore at the Leeward
Islands, promoting him to the command of the Quebec frigate,
vacant by the demise of Captain Josias Rogers *. An unfor-
tunate mistake, however, on the part of the late Sir Charles
Thompson, who had received orders to send Captain Cooke
to St. Christopher's, where the Quebec was to assemble the
homeward bound trade, prevented him from joining his ship ;
and his subsequent appointment to the Alarm frigate, by Rear-
Admiral Thompson, appears to have been rendered nugatory

* This was Captain Cooke's second appointment to a death vacancy ;
the first was to the Thisbe, the commander of which ship, we believe, had
been appointed to the Blanche, as successor to the gallant Faulknor, whose
glorious exit we have just recorded in our memoir of Rear-Admiral Wat-
kins, see p. 10 ; but in consequence of his being absent on distant ser-
vice, Captain Cooke had no opportunity of joining her.

c 2

20 SUPBRANNADATEJ) REAR-ADMIRALS.

by the arrival of a new commander-in-chief, the late Sir
John Laforey, by whom he was ordered to follow the Quebec
to England, where he arrived in the Montagu 74, on the 5th
Oct. 1795.

Soon after his arrival, Captain Cooke was gratified by the
receipt of an address from the Council and Assembly of Tor-
tola, &c. to the following effect :

" Tortola, August 15, 1795.

« Sir. — We, the Council and Assembly of his Majesty's Virgin Islands,
taking into consideration your unremitted exertiens when upon this sta-
tion, for the safety and protection of this colony, beg leave to return you
our wannest thanks. During the time H. M. S. Inspector, at that time
under your command, was stationed here, we were exposed to the most
imminent danger from the hostile disposition of our enemies assembled
at St. Thomas's, who were so daring as publicly to proclaim their intention
of making a descent upon these islands. In this critical posture of our
affairs, we had no other hopes of safety but in the exertions of the militia
of the country, aided by efforts such as were in your power to make in
our behalf; and we reflect, Sir, with gratitude, that we were not disap-
pointed in our expectations of your zeal for his Majesty's service, and for
the preservation of this colony. By your active co-operation with us, in
such measures as were deemed most essential for our defence — we saw
with satisfaction that our enemies were obliged to abandon their intended
enterprise. We should sooner have expressed our sentiments of your
conduct, had not your unexpected removal from H. M. S. the Alarm, and
your sudden departure for England, deprived us of the opportunity of
doing so. We hope the services you have rendered this colony will re-
commend you to the notice of our most gracious Sovereign, and that he
will not suffer your merits to pass unrewarded ; and we sincerely flatter
ourselves, whilst we regret your departure from amongst us, that wher-
ever his Majesty's service may require your presence, you may enjoy
every degree of happiness which life can afford.

" We remain most respectfully, Sir,

" Your obedient, humble Servants,
(Signed) "W. TURN BULL, President.

" To Captain Cooke, late Commander of

" H. M. ships, Inspector and Alarm"

Captain Cooke, on his arrival in England, lost no time in
paying his respects to the Board of Admiralty ; and was
greatly chagrined to find that their Lordships would not con-
firm his post commission from the original date, that of the
brave Faulknor's death, on the score that Rear-Admiral
Caldwell was not bona fide Commander-in-Chief. By this
decision, he lost upwards of eight months rank, during which

SUPER AN NUATBD REAR- ADMIRALS. 21

period no less than forty-three officers, who would otherwise
have been his juniors, took precedence of him. He how-
ever claimed and obtained the command of the Quebec?
which ship he joined on her return from a cruise, Jan. 1,
1796*.

After capturing a French national cutter, Captain Cooke
was again ordered to the West Indies ; where by his conduct
in a rencontre with two frigates of far superior force, he ob-
tained the commendations of his Commodore, the late Sir
John T. Duckworth. Whilst on the Jamaica station he
appears, by the following letter, to have destroyed a formidable
privateer ; the particulars of which transaction we have not
been able to ascertain :

" Cormorant, Mole St. Nicholas, 15th Aug. \\
" Sir, — I am favored with your account of the destruction of the pri-
vateer Regulus, on which I congratulate you, as she has been of great an-
noyance to the trade ; but I could have wished that among the 16 Sans
Culottes who fell by your well-directed fire, that Pierre Olanger, her
commander, who is an infamous scoundrel, had been of the party.

&c. &c. &c.

(Signed) " J. T. DUCKWORTH.

« Captain Cooke, H. M. S. Quebec."

During Captain Cooke's continuance on the Jamaica sta-
tion, he captured 1'Africaine, a French corvette of 18 guns ;
and destroyed a vast number of armed vessels and piratical
boats, off the island of St. Domingo ; — and so highly were
those services appreciated by the inhabitants of St. Marc's,
that they presented the following address to the Commander-
in-Chief, interceding for his continuance there : —

" The inhabitants of the town of St. Marc's, anxious to testify to Cap-
tain Cooke, commander of his Majesty's frigate Quebec, the great regret
they feel at his quitting the station, — desiring at the same time to express
their gratitude to the Commodore, Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's
naval forces, seize with eagerness this opportunity to assure the Commo-
dore, the cruises which Captain Cooke has made since he has been in our
vicinity, have always been attended with the most happy success. The
number of row-boats and other vessels which he has destroyed, witness his
great activity in cruising, and evince the services which he has rendered
our town. Anxious in the very fullest manner to express their just senti-
ments to Captain Cooke, the inhabitants of this town supplicate the Com-

* Captain Cooke's post commission was dated Sept. 8, 1795; bis ap-
pointment to the Thisbe, Jan. 6, 1795.

22 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

modore that he will be pleased to continue him on the station. They will
not cease to pray for the continuation of success to his Majesty's arms."

Signed by JANUABIUS DUQUESNK, various other
officers of the garrison, and all the principal in-
habitants of the town of St. Marc's.
" To J. T. Duckworth, Esq., Commodore, fyc. fyc. fyc."

Our limits do not admit of the introduction of other docu-
ments, relative to the zeal invariably displayed by Captain
Cooke in the furtherance of the public service. Such being
the case, we must conclude this memoir by observing, that
the subject thereof returned to England in Oct. 1797, since
which period he has not been employed afloat.

On the renewal of the war, in 1803, Captain Cooke was
appointed to the command of the Sea Fencibles between Cal-
shot Castle and St. Alban's Head. In May, 1804, he as-
sumed the command of all the lighters, launches, &c. armed,
in and about the Medway, for the purpose of encountering
the formidable flotilla, of which even those who called them-
selves Britons, at that time stood so much in dread. His
last public service was that of superintending the equipment
of the gun-boats destined to accompany the Walcheren ex-
pedition*. The Sea Fencibles being disbanded early in
1810, our officer at that period, like many others, both then
and now, wishing for active service, came on half-pay.

Captain Cooke, in consequence of the regulation, proscrib-
ing officers who had not commanded ships of the line since
the peace of Amiens from becoming Flag-Officers, was su-
perannuated with the rank of Rear-Admiral, June 20, 1814.

Mrs. Cooke died at Portchester, Feb. 26, 1822, aged 69
year*.

Residence. — Tiverton, Devon.

JOHN DAWSON, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Post-Captain, April 3, 1/96 ;
and towards the conclusion of the revolutionary war, com-
manded the Diadem, troop-ship, from which he removed into
the Asia of 64 guns, on the Baltic station. He was super-
annuated June 28, 1814. It is said of a gentleman of the
same name, who commanded the Phaeton frigate, in 1787,
* See vol. 1, p. 290.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 23

and was afterwards dismissed his Majesty's service, that
when presiding at a court-martial, he desired the prisoner,
who had been sentenced to be hanged, " to prepare himself for
death, without delay, — and to thank God it was no worse
with him." This may probably account for the well-known
expression among sailors, — " death, or worse punishment."
Residence. — Carrickfergus, Ireland.

SHULDHAM PEARD, ESQ.

THIS officer, a son of the late Captain George Peard, R. N.,
was born at Penryn, co. Cornwall, in 1761 ; entered the na-
val service in 1773 ', was at Newfoundland when the war
commenced between Great Britain and her American colo-
nies; and in 1779 had the misfortune to be taken prisoner
in a Spanish vessel, of which he had charge, captured by the
Thetis frigate. Being carried into Cadiz, he was from
thence transferred with his crew to Cordova, where he re-
mained until exchanged. In the following year he was pro-
moted to the rank of Lieutenant. His post- commission
bears date Nov. 30, 1795 ; about which time we find him
commanding the Britannia, a first-rate, bearing the flag of
the late Lord Hotham, on the Mediterranean station. From
that ship he removed into the St. George, of 98 guns.

Early in July, 1797? a most daring mutiny broke out on
board the St. George, which was happily quelled by the
spirit and activity of her Commander and his first Lieutenant,
aided by a detachment of the 25th regiment, then serving as
marines, under the command of Captain (now Major-Ge-
neral) Samuel Venables Hinde. The meritorious conduct
of Captain Peard on this occasion sets a noble example to
the officers of the British navy. The circumstance was as
follows : — Three men, who had been sentenced to suffer
death for mutinous behaviour in another ship, were sent on
board the St. George to be executed. The crew, on the
arrival of the prisoners, drew up a remonstrance in their
favor, and begged of Captain Peard to intercede in their
behalf with the Commander-in-Chief. The Captain replied
that their prayer should be laid before the Earl of St. Vincent ;
and in pursuance of his promise, he lost no time in sub-
mitting the remonstrance to his Lordship. The Admiral's

24 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRAtS.

answer was, that he considered the sentence of the mutineers
as founded upon solid justice and imperious necessity ; and
consequently he could not think of retracting the sanction
which he had given to the judgment of the court-martial,
by whom they had been convicted. Upon this determina-
tion being made known to the crew of the St George, the
strongest symptoms of disaffection were manifested by them.
Their conduct was not unobserved by Captain Peard, who
took the precaution to watch their proceedings with the
utmost strictness : one of the seamen, who was well ac-
quainted with their designs, informed him that they had
entered into a resolution of seizing the ship, deposing the
officers, and liberating the condemned culprits. The even-
ing previous to the day appointed for carrying into effect
the sentence of the court-martial, was the time fixed upon
to put their plan into force. Captain Peard seeing the crew
assemble on the main-deck, immediately approached, and
addressed them to the following effect : — " 1 am perfectly
aware of your intentions, and shall oppose them at the risk
of my life. You have determined to resist the authority
of your officers ; I am resolved to do my duty, and to en-
force strict obedience to my orders. I am sensible that the
greater part of you are the victims of delusion : I know
the ringleaders, and do not hesitate to declare my intentions
of bringing them to justice. I command you to disperse,
and to return to your duty."

Finding this address did not produce the desired effect.
Captain Peard, accompanied by Lieutenant Hatley, rushed
in among the crowd, resolutely seized two of the people,
whom he knew to be the promoters of the conspiracy,
dragged them out by main force, and put them in irons,
without experiencing any opposition from the remainder
of the crew. The resolution and determined courage dis-
played by Captain Peard on this occasion, had such an
effect upon them, that order was immediately restored, and
they returned peaceably to their duty. The next morning
the three mutineers were hanged at the yard-arm; and a
few days after, the two ring-leaders of the St. George were
tried by a court-martial, condemned to suffer death, and
executed accordingly.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 25

The following memorandum was given out by Earl St.
Vincent, the night before the execution of the latter offend-
ers : —

" General Order. — Every ship in the fleet is to send two boats, with an
officer in each, and two marines or soldiers properly armed in each boat,
on board his Majesty's ship the St. George, at half past seven to-morrow
morning, to attend a punishment. The sentence is to be carried into
execution by the crew of the St. George alone ; and no part of the boats'
crews of other ships, as is usual on similar occasions, are to assist in this
painful service ; in order to mark the high sense the Commander-in-Chief
entertains of the loyalty, fidelity, and subordination of the rest of the fleet,
which he will not fail to make known to the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, and request their Lordships to lay it before the King. This
memorandum is to be read to the ships' companies."

The St. George was afterwards attached to the Channel
fleet; and Captain Peard continued to command her until
the month of February, 1799? when he was appointed to
the Success frigate, and again ordered to the Mediterranean.
On his passage thither, he fell in with a fleet of French ships,
consisting of upwards of thirty sail, nineteen of which he
judged to be of the line. The Success was at one time
within four miles of two of their line-of-battle ships, which
chased her from noon until 4h 30' P. M., at which time they
discontinued the pursuit.

On the 9th June following, Captain Peard discovered a
Spanish polacre, which sought refuge in the harbour of la
Seva, a small port about two leagues from Cape Creux. As
there did not appear any batteries to protect her, and the
weather being favorable, he was induced to send his boats in
to bring her out, under the directions of Lieutenants Facey
and Stupart. They left the ship at four in the afternoon,
and at eight were seen coming out with the polacre, which
had made a gallant resistance. She proved to be the Bella
Aurora, from Genoa bound to Barcelona, laden with silk,
cotton, rice, &c., mounting 10 carriage guns, 9 and 6-pound-
ers, with 1 13 men. She was surrounded by a high boarding
netting, and supported at the same time by a small battery,
and a heavy fire of musketry from the shore ; in spite of
which our brave countrymen, forty-two only in number,
most resolutely boarded and carried her, but not without
some loss, three of them being killed, Lieutenant (now Cap-

26 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

tain) Stupart, and 9 others, badly wounded. It is said
that a marine, who had his right arm broke by a grape shot,
was asked by Lieutenant Facey, " If his arm was not
disabled ?" to which he nobly replied, " Yes, it was ; but
thank God, though he could not pull a trigger with his
right, he could wield a cutlass with his left hand;" and
in this situation was very active in assisting to board and
capture the enemy.

The Success was subsequently employed in the blockade
of Malta ; and on the 10th Feb. 1800, 'when the squadron
under the orders of Lord Nelson intercepted le Genereux
of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Perree, Com-
mander-in-Chief of the French naval force in the Mediter-
ranean, Captain Peard displayed great judgment and gal-
lantry in laying his frigate across the enemy's hawse, in
which position he raked him with several broadsides. The
Success on this occasion had 1 man killed and 9 wounded.
Le Genereux was from Toulon, and had on board a number
of troops bound for the relief of Malta. A large armed
transport, with stores, provisions, &c., was taken at the
same time.

On the 9th Feb. 1801, whilst lying in Gibraltar Bay, Cap-
tain Peard saw seven ships of the line and two frigates pass
to the eastward under a press of sail ; and having no doubt
but they were French, and their destination Egypt, he
immediately determined to put to sea, endeavour to pass
them, call off Minorca, and then proceed to Lord Keith
with the intelligence. The next morning he came up with
them off Cape de Gatte, and passed them in the night. The
two following days they were in sight, but very distant, —
the wind variable and light. During the night of the 12th,
the wind blew fresh from the South, and as Captain Peard
carried every sail the ship would bear, he imagined his dis-
tance would have been greatly increased by the morning;
but had the mortification to find the enemy at day-light
close upon his larboard quarter. They immediately gave
chase j and as our officer saw it was scarcely possible to
escape, he determined to run them back to the westward,
as- it would materially retard, or might bring them in sight
of any British ships that should be in pursuit of them. At

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 27

noon the wind fell, which, with a head sea, gave the enemy
every advantage. At three o'clock they were within musket-
shot, and two ships of the line, one on the beam, the other
on the quarter, began to fire; when being convinced that
nothing more could be done, Captain Peard reluctantly or-
dered the colours to be hauled down.

The French squadron was commanded by Rear-Admiral
Gantheaume, and had sailed from Brest on the 23d of the
preceding month. Six days after the capture of the Success,
they anchored at Toulon, from whence Captain Peard, with
his officers, were sent in a cartel to Port Mahon, where they
arrived on the 26th February.

Soon after his return to England, the subject of this me-
moir was appointed to the Audacious of 74 guns ; and on
the 16th June, in the same year, he sailed with the squadron
under Sir James Saumarez, sent to blockade Cadiz.

In the action with the French squadron off Algesiras, on
the 6th of the following month *, the Audacious had 8 men
killed and 32 wounded. She returned to Spithead in Oc~
tober j and from that time until the spring of 1802, formed
part of the Channel fleet. At the latter period she was or-
dered to the West Indies, where she continued until the en-
suing autumn.

On the renewal of hostilities against France, in 1803, Cap-
tain Peard was appointed to the command of the Sea Fenci-
bles from the Ram Head to the Dodman. He was super-
annuated, with the rank of Rear- Admiral, July 5, 1814.

Residence. — Exeter.

JOHN BAZELY, ESQ.

THIS officer is the son of the late Admiral John Bazely,
who commanded the Alfred of 74 guns, in the battle of June
1, 1794, in the glories of which memorable day the subject
of this sketch also participated, he being at that time third
Lieutenant of the Royal George, a first rate, bearing the flag
of the late Lord Bridport, under whom he likewise served as
Captain of the Prince of Wales, a 98-gun ship, carrying the
flag of Rear-Admiral Harvey, in the action off L'Orient, June

• See Vol. I, p. 1!#.

28 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS,

23, 1795* ; soon after which event he was appointed to the
Hind of 28 guns, stationed in the Channel. Towards the
latter end of 1/97 he joined the Overyssel of 64 guns, as
Flag-Captain to Admiral Peyton ; and in that ship he assisted
at the capture of the Dutch fleet in the Texel, in the month
of August 1799 f.

Captain Bazely continued in the Overyssel until the peace
of Amiens. He subsequently commanded the Sea Fencibles
from the mouth of the Humber to the river Ouze. His post
commission bears date November 11, 1794; and his super-
annuation took place July 9, 1814.

Residence. — Dover.

ALEXANDER WILSON, ESQ.

THIS officer's good conduct when coxswain to the late Lord
Bridport, raised him to favor and promotion. He was a Lieu-
tenant in that nobleman's flag-ship on the glorious 1st June,
1794, and in the action off 1'Orient ^ ; after which he was en-
trusted with the charge of the Alexander 74, recaptured from
the enemy on that occasion. His post commission is dated
September 2, 1795. He subsequently commanded the Flora
frigate, and Trusty, a 50 gun ship, armed en flute ; served in
the expedition against the French in Egypt ; and is one of
those gentlemen who were presented with the Turkish gold
medal. He was superannuated July 18, 1814.

Residence. — Wexford, Ireland.

SIMON MILLER, ESQ.

THIS officer commanded the Experiment, a 44-gun ship
armed en flute, at the reduction of Martinique, Guadaloupe,
&c. in 1794, and was posted by Sir John Jervis into the Van-
guard 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Charles Thompson,
in which ship he convoyed home a fleet of merchantmen in
1797. His post commission bears date Nov. 4, 1794. During
his continuance in the West Indies he was attacked three
times by the yellow fever. He was superannuated August 16,
1814. Mrs. Miller died Dec. 31, 1823, aged 67.

Residence.— Twyford, near Winchester.

• See Vol. I. pp. 76 and 246. f See Vol. I. note at p. 414, tt teq.
» See Vol. I. pp. 76 and 246.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALSi 29

RICHARD DACRES, ESQ.

THIS officer, whose ancestors appear to have settled at Lea-
therhead, in Surrey, about the close of the sixteenth century, is
the fifth son of the late Richard Dacres, Esq. Secretary to the
garrison of Gibraltar, by Mary, daughter of William Bateman,
Esq. of Bury St. Edmund's, in the county of Suffolk, and a
brother of the late Vice- Admiral Dacres.

He was born in Sept. 1761, entered the naval service in
1775, and served as a Midshipman on board the Renown of
50 guns, at the evacuation of Boston*, and the reduction of
New York, Rhode Island f, and on various other services.

Mr. Dacres remained in the Renown until 1778, when he
returned to England and joined the Apollo frigate, commanded
by Captain Philemon Pownall. He was consequently in the
action between that ship and 1'Oiseau French frigate, Jan. 31,
1779j which terminated in the capture of the enemy. On
this occasion the Apollo had 6 men killed and 22, including
her Commander and his two Lieutenants, wounded. The
enemy's loss was never ascertained.

Our officer was afterwards removed into the Victory, a first
rate, bearing the flag of Sir Charles Hardy, Commander-in-
Chief of the Channel fleet ; by whom he was promoted to the
rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the Amazon frigate, com-
manded by the Hon. W. C. Finch, with whom he proceeded
to the West Indies in the spring of 1780.

During the memorable hurricane which visited the West
India islands on the 10th and llth Oct. in that year J, the
Amazon had a narrow escape from destruction. The parti-
culars of her situation are thus related in Captain Finch's
official letter on that subject : —

" The morning of the commencement of the gale, the Amazon stood un-
der her storm stay-sails ; it was but for a short time the canvas held : after
that the ship behaved perfectly well. About seven at night the gale in-
creased to a degree that can be better conceived from the consequences,
than any description I can give. There was an evident necessity of doing
something to relieve the ship ; but I was unwilling to cut away the lower
masts till the last extremity, and accordingly ordered the people to cut
away the main-top-mast : my orders were attempted to be put into execu-
tion with the utmost alacrity ; but before it could be accomplished, I

* See Vol. I, p. 39 *. f See Retired Captain Sir ANDREW S. HAMOND.
J See Vol. I, p. 105.

30 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

found it necessary to call them down to cut away the main-mast. Whilst
I was waiting for the men to come down, a sudden gust overset the ship ;
most of the officers, with myself, and a number of the ship's company, got
upon the side of the ship ; the wheel on the quarter-deck was then under
water. In this situation I could perceive the ship settling bodily some feet,
until the water washed up to the after part of the slides of the carronades
on the weather side. Notwithstanding the ship was so far gone, upon the
masts, bowsprit, &c. going away, she righted as far as to bring the lee gun-
wale even with the water's edge. By the exertion of all the officers and
men, we soon got the lee quarter-deck guns and carronades overboard,
and soon after one of the forecastle guns and sheet anchor cut away ; which
had ao good an effect, that we were enabled to get at the pumps and lee
guns on the main-deck : the throwing them overboard was, in our situa-
tion, a work of great difficulty ; and I could perceive the ship was already
going down by the stern. This arduous task was accomplished under the
direction of Lieutenant Edward Pakenham, whose great experience and
determined perseverance, marked him out as perhaps the only individual
to whom (amidst such great exertions) a pre-eminence could be given.
The water was above the cable on the orlop-deck, with a vast quantity be-
tween decks ; and the stump of the main-mast falling out of the step, oc-
casioned one of the chain pumps to be rendered useless, as was the other
soon after : by the great activity of the two carpenter's mates, they were
alternately cleared. Besides the loss of our masts, the ship has suffered
considerable damages, the books and papers totally destroyed, and 20 sea-
men drowned and wounded."

From the Amazon, Mr. Dacres was removed, as first Lieu-
tenant, into the Alcide of 74 guns, Captain C. Thompson ;
in which ship he was present in Admiral Graves' action off
the Chesapeake, Sept. 5th, 1781 * ; and in the different skir-
mishes with Count de Grasse's squadron, at St. Christopher's,
in the beginning of the year 1782 f. He also participated in
Rodney's glorious victory over the French fleet, on the 12th
April succeeding %.

The present just rule, of promoting first Lieutenants on
such occasions, was not then established j and Mr. Dacres re-
mained in the Alcide till 1783, when he was appointed junior
Lieutenant of the Bombay Castle 74, stationed at Ports-
mouth, where he continued about two years, and then accom-
panied .Commodore Sawyer to Halifax, in the Leander 50,
from which ship he was paid off in 1788.

In the Spanish armament of 1790, Lieutenant Dacres was
appointed, first, to the Dictator 64, and afterM-ards to the

* See Vol. I. p. 133. f See retired Captain J. N. INGLEFIKLD.

\ See Vol. J., note at p. 35, et seq.

SUPERANNUATED BEAK-ADMIRALS. 31

Windsor Castle of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Rear Admiral
Sawyer. r^J*

The difference with Spain, it will be recollected, was ami-
cably settled ; and from that period till the commencement
of hostilities against the French republic, Mr. Dacres re-
mained unemployed. He was then appointed to command
the Union armed brig ; from which vessel he removed as first
Lieutenant into the Hannibal of 74 guns, commanded by the
late Sir John Colpoys.

In 1794, the Hannibal being put out of commission, he
was appointed first Lieutenant of the Diamond frigate, com-
manded by his old messmate and steady friend Sir W. Sidney
Smith. With that officer he appears to have remained but a
short time ; as in the month of October following, we find
him serving with his former Commander, Rear-Admiral Col-
poys, in the London of 98 guns.

At length, in the month of March, 1795, after serving
fifteen years as a Lieutenant, Mr. Dacres was promoted to
the rank of Commander, in the Childers sloop ; and on the
31st Oct. following, he was further advanced by being made
a Post-Captain, in the Camilla of 20 guns, on the North Sea
station. During the time he commanded the former vessel,
he captured the Vigilante, a national cutter, mounting 6 guns.

In the spring of 1797, Captain Dacres was removed into
the Astrea frigate, and soon after performed a most essential
service by effecting his escape from the Nore during the
height of the general mutiny, and convoying a valuable fleet
in safety to the Baltic. Whilst in that ship he also captured
several French and Dutch privateers. The Astrea being
paid off in 1799, our officer remained without any other ap-
pointment until early' in 1801, when he obtained the com-
mand of the Juste of 80 guns, and accompanied Sir Robert
Calder to the West Indies, in pursuit of a French squadron
that had escaped from Brest.

On his return to England, our officer was appointed to the
De Ruyter of 68 guns, stationed as a guardship at Spithead j
in which he remained till the cessation of hostilities. He
then joined the Desiree, and went to Jamaica with the squa-
dron under the late Sir George Campbell, but quitted her
there in consequence of ill health.

32 SUPERANNUATED REAR- ADMIRALS.

On the renewal of the war in 1803, Captain Dacres was
appointed to the Sea Fencible service at Dartmouth ; and in
1805, when his friend Sir W. Sidney Smith hoisted his flag
in the Pompee, he proceeded with him, as his Captain, to the
Mediterranean, where he was engaged in a great variety of
services, particularly on the coast of Calabria, and at the
forcing of the passage of the Dardanelles, and destruction of a
Turkish squadron off Point Pesquies*.

The Pompee, as already mentioned in our memoir of Sir
W. Sidney Smith, returned to England from Alexandria in
June 1807, and soon after received the flag of Vice-Admiral
Stanhope, whom Captain Dacres accompanied to Copenhagen,
where he displayed very great activity, zeal, and presence of
mind, in his exertions to subdue an alarming fire which un-
fortunately broke out hi the dock-yard, on the night of Sept.
22, for which he received a very deserved tribute of praise
from Sir Samuel Hood, under whose orders he was at that
time superintending the equipment of the Danish fleet, and
was presented by Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart, the
naval and military Commanders-in-Chief, with a handsome
piece of plate, as a token of their approbation.

On the 2d Feb. 1808, Captain Dacres was appointed Go-
vernor of the Royal Naval Asylum, where he continued until
August 1816, highly respected by every individual connected
with, or participating in the benefits of that admirable insti-
tution f. He was superannuated with the rank of Rear Ad-
miral, March 29, 1817.

Our officer married, in 1788, Miss Martha Phillips Milligan,
by whom he has several children, one of whom is the lady of
Captain W. F. Carrol, R. N. C. B. and another has recently
been united to Captain H. S. Olivier, of the 32d regiment.

Residence. — Bathford, co. Somerset.

* See Vol. I. pp. 315, eteq. 799, et seq. and 809.

f The Royal Naval Asylum was firsc instituted by two philanthropic
chiefs of the Hebrew nation, (Messrs. Benjamin and Abraham Goldsmid)
aided by the public and professional skill of the gallant Sir W. Sidney
Smith. The object of the institution is the education of children, whose fa-
thers are, or have been, engaged in the naval service of their country. The
number of pupils was originally intended to be 1000 ; but at present it is,
we believe, restricted to a smaller number.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS» 33

D'ARCY PRESTON, ESQ.

THIS officer served under Sir John Jervis at the reduction
of Martinique and St. Lucia, in 1794 ; and after the cap-
ture of the latter island, was promoted from a Lieutenancy in
the Boyne of 98 guns, to the command of the Rattlesnake
sloop of war, in which vessel he returned to England with the
officers who were charged with the official accounts of that
conquest. He afterwards commanded the Termagant sloop ;
and on the 13th June 1/96, was posted into la Mignonne of 32
guns, from which ship he removed into the Blanche, another
frigate of the same class.

On the night of Dec. 19, in the same year, the Blanche, in
company with la Minerve, bearing the broad pendant of Com-
modore Nelson, fell in with two Spanish frigates, one of
which, the Sabina, was taken by the latter, but soon after re-
captured*. Captain Preston engaged the other, and obliged
her to surrender, with the loss of 22 men killed and wounded ;
but before she could be taken possession of, a Spanish 3-
decker and two other frigates approached, and compelled the
Blanche to wear and make sail in the direction of her consort.

Captain Preston subsequently commanded the Dido of 28
guns, Boston 32, and during the greater part of the late war, the
Sea Fencibles between Flamborough Head and the river Tees.
In Dec. 1813, he was appointed Commodore of a division of
prison-ships ; and on die 24th Aug. 1819, obtained the su-
perannuation of a Rear-Admiral. His eldest son is in holy
orders ; another is a Lieutenant R. N.

Residence. — Askam, near York.

MAN DOBSON, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Post-Captain June 28, 1796 j and
from that period till the latter end of 1800, commanded the
Queen of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Sir Hyde Parker, on
the Jamaica station. At the close of the late war he was em-
ployed to regulate the Impress service at Bristol. His su-
perannuation took place Aug. 24, 1819.

Residence.— Oxendon, near Market Harborough, Leices-
tershire.

• See Vol. I. p. 520.

VOL. II. D

34 SUPERANNUATED UEAR-ADMIRAL9.

THOMAS PEARSE, ESQ.

POSTED Dec. 6, 1796; superannuated Aug. 24, 1819'
resides at Bradninch, near Columpton, in Devonshire.

JOSEPH BULLEN, ESQ.

THIS officer, the second son of the late Rev. John Bullen,
Rector of Kennet, in Cambridgeshire, and of Rushmoor-cum-
Newburn, co. Suffolk, entered the navy in 1774, under the
patronage of the late Hon. Sir William Cornwallis, and
served with that admirable officer during the greater part of
the American war. He was with him in the Isis at the re-
duction of Mud fort *, and in the Lion, in the action between
Byron and d'Estaing f.

On the glorious 12th April, 1782> when Rodney defeated
de Grasse, we find Mr. Bullen serving as a Lieutenant on
board the Prince George of 98 guns, commanded by the late
Captain John Williams, and not by the present Admiral
Freeman, as stated in our first volume J. The Prince on that
occasion was next astern of the Princessa, which ship carried
the flag of Rear- Admiral Drake, and led the fleet into action.

Lieutenant Bullen subsequently served with the late Lord
Nelson, in the Hinchinbrooke frigate, on the Mosquito shore ;
where the mortality was so great, owing to the unhealthiness
of the climate, that at the end of six weeks, only 27 officers
and men were surviving, out of a complement of 235 §.

* See Retired Captain Sir ANDREW SNAPE HAMOXD.
t See Retired Captain ROBERT FANSHAWE.

J We were led into the mistake alluded to, by Schomberg, whose errors
of this description are innumerable.

§ Early in 1780, a project was formed by General Dalling, Governor of
Jamaica, against the Spanish American colonies. This design was to take
Fort St. Juan, on theiiver of that name, which flows from the Lake Nica-
ragua, into the Atlantic ; make himself master of the lake itself, and of the
cities of Grenada and Leon ; and thus cut off the communication of the
Spaniards between their northern and southern possessions in America.
Here it is that a canal between the two seas may most easily be formed ; —
a work more important in its consequences than any which has ever yet
been effected by human power. The Secretary of State for the American
department approved the plan : and as discontents at that time were
known to prevail in the Neuvo Reyno, in Popayan, and in Peru, the more
sanguine part of the English nation began to dream of acquiring an empire
in one part of America, more extensive than that which they were on the
point of losing in another. General Balling's plans were well-formed ; but

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 35

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war, he
again joined Captain Nelson, in the Agamemnon of 64 guns ;

the history and the nature of the country had not been studied as accurately
as its geography : the difficulties which occurred in fitting out the expedi-
tion, delayed it till the season was too far advanced ; and the men were
thus sent to adventure themselves, not so much against an enemy, whom they
would have beaten, as against a climate, which would do the enemy's work.

Five hundred men, destined for this service, were conveyed by Captain
Nelson from Port Royal to Cape Gracias a Dios, in Honduras. Not a
native was to be seen when they landed : they had been taught that the
English came with no other intent than that of enslaving them, and car-
rying them to Jamaica. After a while, however, one of them ventured
down, confiding in his knowledge of one of the party ; and by his means
the neighbouring tribes were conciliated with presents, and brought in.
The troops were encamped on a swampy and unwholesome plain, where
they were joined by a party of the 79th regiment, from Black River, who
were already in a deplorable state of sickness. Having remained here a
month, they proceeded, anchoring frequently, along the Mosquito shore,
to collect their Indian allies, who were to furnish proper boats for the en-
terprise, and to accompany them. They reached the river San Juan,
March 24th, the latter end of the dry season, and the worst time for such
an expedition, the river being consequently low. About 200 soldiers,
however, were embarked in the Mosquito shore craft, and in the Hinchin-
brooke's boats, and they began their voyage. Indians were sent forward
through narrow channels between shoals and sand-banks, and the English
were frequently obliged to quit the boats, and exert their utmost strength
to drag or thrust them along. This labour continued for several days,
when they came into deeper water ; they had then currents and rapids to
contend with, which would have been insurmountable, but for the skill of
the Indians in such difficulties. The brunt of the labour was borne by
them, and by the British sailors — men never accustomed to stand aloof
when any exertion of strength or hardihood is required. The soldiers,
less accustomed to rely upon themselves, were of little use. But all
equally endured the violent heat of the sun, rendered more intense by
being reflected from the white shoals, while the high woods, on both
sides of the river, were frequently so close as to prevent all refreshing
circulation of air ; and during the night all were equally exposed to the
heavy and unwholesome dews.

On the 9th April, they reached an island in the river, called St. Barto-
lomeo, which the Spaniards had fortified, as an out-post, with a small
semi-circular battery, mounting 9 or 10 swivels, and manned with 16 or
18 men. It commanded the river in a rapid and difficult part of the navi-
gation. Nelson, at the head of a few of his seamen, leaped upon the
beach, and, in his own phrase, boarded the battery. The castle of St.
Juan is situated about sixteen miles above St. Bartoloraeo, sixty-nine
from the mouth of the river, and thirty-two below the Lake of Nicaragua.

D 2

36 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

from which ship, after being engaged in a variety of active
services, he was removed into the Victory, a first rate, bear-
ing the flag of Lord Hood j by whom he was entrusted with
the command of Fort Mulgrave, during the defence of Toulon

Boats reach the sea from the castle in a day and a half ; but their navi-
gation back, even when unladen, is the labour of nine days. The British,
after marching several miles, and transporting the stores and provisions
through woods almost impassable, appeared before it two days after the
capture of St. Bartolomeo. Nelson's advice was, that it should instantly
be carried by assault : but Nelson was not the commander ; and it was
thought proper to observe all the formalities of a siege. Ten days were
wasted before this could be commenced. It was a work more of fatigue
than of danger ; but fatigue was more to be dreaded than the enemy ; the
rains set in : and, could the garrison have held out a little longer, disease
would have rid them of their invaders. Even the Indians sunk under it,
the victims of unusual exertion, and of their own excesses. The place
surrendered on the 24th; but victory procured to the conquerors none of
that relief which had been expected. The castle was worse than a prison j
and it contained nothing which could contribute to the recovery of the
sick, or the preservation of those who were yet unaffected. The huts,
which served for hospitals, were surrounded with filth and with the putri-
fying hides of slaughtered cattle — almost sufficient of themselves to have
engendered pestilence : and when, at last, orders were given to erect a
convenient hospital, the contagion had become so general that there were
none who could work at it : for, besides the few who were able to perform
garrison duty, there were not orderly men enough to attend the sick.
Added to these evils, there was the want of all needful remedies ; for
though the expedition had been amply provided with hospital stores,
river craft enough had not been procured for transporting the requisite
baggage ; and when much was to be left behind, provision for sickness
was that which of all things] men in health would be most ready to leave.
Now, when these medicines were required, the river was swoln, and so
turbulent that its upward navigation was almost impracticable. At
length even the task of burying the dead was more than the living could
perform ; and the bodies were tost into the stream, or left for beasts of
prey, and for the gallinazos — those dreadful carrion-birds, which do not
always wait for death before they begin their work. Five months the
British persisted in what may be called this war against nature ; they
then left a few men, who seemed proof against the climate, to retain the
castle till the Spaniards should choose to retake it, and make them pri-
soners. The rest abandoned their baleful conquest. Eighteen hundred
men were sent to different posts upon this wretched expedition : not more
than 380 ever returned. Of the Hinchinbrooke's crew, 87 are said to have
taken to their beds in one night. The castle when taken, contained one
brass 5$-inch mortar, and 20 pieces of brass ordnance, besides swivels,
mounted ; and 10 or 12 iron guns dismounted.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

against the republican armies *, to whose fire he was con-
stantly exposed for a period of three weeks.
. Previous to the final evacuation of Toulon, Lieutenant
Bullen was promoted to the rank of Commander ; and la
Mulette of 20 guns, the ship intended for him, being absent,
he received an order to act as Captain of the Proselyte frigate,
in which he narrowly escaped being captured, in consequence
of his having voluntarily remained after every other ship had
left the harbour, and thereby rescued 300 Spanish and Nea-
politan troops, who had been deserted by their countrymen,
and but for his humanity would inevitably have been taken
prisoners, if not massacred by the ferocious enemy.

Captain Bullen subsequently obtained permission from
Lord Hood to serve as a volunteer with his friend Captain
Serecold, who, after the retreat from Toulon, had superseded
him in the command of the Proselyte ; out of which ship they
were both burnt by the hot shot from the French batteries,
during the siege of Bastia. Our officer afterwards com-
manded an advanced battery, and continued on shore until
the surrender of that place. We find his name mentioned in
the highest terms by Nelson, when writing an official account
of the operations of the siege to Lord Hoodf.

On his return to England, Captain Bullen embarked as a
volunteer with his friend the present Sir T. Byam Martin, in
the Santa Margaritta ; and he appears to have been on board
that ship, when she captured the Tamise, French frigate J.

His last service afloat was as acting Captain of the Alex-
ander 74, stationed off Brest. He obtained post rank Nov.
24, 1796 ; and on the renewal of the war was appointed to
the command of the Lynn Regis district of Sea Fencibles.
His superannuation took place Aug. 28th, 1819.

On reference to the memoranda in our possession, we ob-
serve that Rear- Admiral Bullen has been sixty -nine times
engaged with the enemies of his country, in ships, boats, and
batteries ; and that he has repeatedly received the thanks of
his superior officers. He married, in 1801, Margaret Ann,
only daughter of the late W. Seafe, Esq. of the Leazes, co.
Durham, Barrister at Law.

Residence. — Bath.

* See Vol. I, pp. 46 and 294. f See Vol I, p. 251 . J See Vol. I, p. 492-

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS*

SAMUEL BROOKING, ESQ.

WE have not been able to trace with any degree of accu-
racy the descent of the family of Brooking, though from theif
arms, some documents in their possession, and the names of
several estates in Devonshire and Cornwall, such as Pales-
tine, Judea, &c., once belonging to them, we have reason to
believe that their ancestors were not idle during the Holy
Wars. The officer of whom we are about to speak was born
at Newton Ferrers, in the former county, about 1753 ; went
first to sea with the Hon. Captain John Leveson Gower, in
1765 j and subsequently served as a Midshipman, under the
late Sir Roger Curtis, Lord Howe, and Sir Richard Onslow ;
by the latter of whom he was placed in command of a gun-
boat belonging to the St. Albans, during the expedition up
Hudson's River, to relieve General Burgoyne. On this occa-
sion, forts Montgomery and Clinton were carried by storm ;
the enemy, on their retreat, setting fire to two new frigates
and several other vessels, which were totally destroyed. They
also abandoned and burnt fort Constitution, and Continental
village. In the last were barracks for 1500 men ; a large
boom or chain, of a curious construction, was either carried
away or sunk ; its value was estimated at 70,000/. sterling.

Previous to his quitting the gun- boat, Mr. Brooking, when
making a" diversion to favor the landing of some troops at the
mouth of a river, and with «. view of cutting off an American
galley, narrowly escaped destruction, by a shot passing
through the corner of his powder chest ; and his gun being at
the same time disabled, he was obliged to withdraw.

In 1778, Lord Howe made him a Lieutenant j in which
capacity we find him serving on board the Strombolo fire-
vessel, Galatea of 20 guns, and Prudent 64, at the relief of
Rhode Island * ; Fort M'Lean f, and St. Kitts* ; an account

* See Retired Captain, Sir A. S. HAMOND.

t About the middle of June, 1779, Colonel M'Lean sailed from Halifax
with 600 troops, escorted by three sloops of war, to the Penobscot river,
where on his arrival he established a strong post extremely well chosen
for annoying the enemy ; who, greatly alarmed at this transaction, imme-
diately equipped a formidable armament at Boston, appointing Commo-
dore Saltenstall to the command.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 39

of which latter event will be found under the head of Retired
Captain Inglefield.

The Galatea, of which ship Mr. Brooking was the only
Lieutenant, was one of the most active cruisers on the Ame-
rican station ; and in the course of a single cruise of six
weeks, was fortunate enough to capture two large letters of
marque, a formidable privateer, which had done much mis-
chief to our trade, and the Recovery, an armed ship belonging
to the United States. The latter vessel sustained a running
fight of considerable duration j and, considering the number of
men absent from the Galatea in her former prizes, and the
manner in which that ship was crowded with prisoners, it
would not, we think, have reflected any disgrace on the re-
mainder of the British officers and men had she effected her
escape : as it was, her capture must be considered highly
creditable to them.

In 1782, Captain Andrew Barclay, under whom Mr. Brooking
was then serving as first Lieutenant of the Prudent, gave him
an order to act as Commander, in the St. Lucia sloop of war ;
but he doesnot appear to have been confirmed to that rank until
1794, when he received a commission appointing him to the

On the 27th July, the American squadron, accompanied by a fleet of
transports, having on board a large body of troops, commanded by General
Lovell, arrived in the river, and began to cannonade the sloops of war and
battery ; which was so ably returned, that the enemy in their repeated at-
tempts to land were repulsed. On the third day, however, they succeeded,
under cover of a tremendous fire, which obliged the picquets to retire into
the fort, the attack and defence of which was carried on with great spirit
until the night of Aug. 13th, when on a sudden the American fire ceased.
At day-light, on the following morning, to the astonishment of the garri-
son, it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned their works, and re-
embarked their troops and artillery. This mystery was soon cleared up
by the appearance of Commodore Sir George Collier, in the Raisonable 64,
with three frigates, two 20-gun ships, and a sloop of war, entering the
river, having sailed from Sandy Hook to their relief. The American Com-
modore at first drew up his squadron, and made a shew of resistance ; but
on the approach of the British frigates, his resolution soon failed, and a
most ignominious flight took place, which terminated in the capture and
destruction of the whole rebel force, consisting of one frigate, three ships
of 24 guns each, one of 22, twelve ships, brigs, &c., mounting in the
whole 194 guns, and twenty-one sail of transports, benidet two brigs of
war previously taken by the squadron.

40 SUPERANNUATED REAR. ADMIRALS.

command of the Drake, in which vessel he was afterwards
sent to the Jamaica station. His promotion to the rank of
Post-Captain took place July 21, 1796.

During the ensuing three years we find our officer command-
ing the Jamaica, a 20-gun ship, and a squadron consisting of
two sloops of war and two or three schooners, besides several
armed vessels belonging to the government of Jamaica,
placed under his orders for the protection of the coasts of that
island, and the collection of the periodical fleets previous to
their departure for England. Whilst thus employed, he ac-
quitted himself so much to the satisfaction of the House of
Assembly, that that body, as will appear by the following
document, voted him a sword value 100 guineas, which, on
his return to England as convoy to the homeward bound
trade at the latter end of 1/99, was presented to him by their
agent in London.

" House of Assembly, Nov. 14, 1799.

" RESOLVED, that this House entertain a high sense of the ser.
vices derived to this island from the zeal and activity of Samuel Brooking,
Esq. Captain of his Majesty's ship Jamaica, during the period of three
years, when the protection of the coasting trade and navigation was under
his directions ; and that the Receiver-General do pay to his agent the sum
of one hundred guineas for the purchase of a sword, as a testimony of the
favorable opinion this House entertain of his meritorious conduct.

" By order of the House,
(Signed) " JAMES LEWIS, Clerk to the Assembly."

The gentlemen, merchants, planters, &c. of St. Ann's Bay,
had previously expressed themselves in terms as follow :

" St. Ann's Bay, April 20, 1799.

" Sir, — We the inhabitants of this place should be wanting in gratitude
were we not to subscribe to your peculiar merits, and express the lively
sense with which we are impressed of the benefits this port and its vicinity
have participated with the island in general from your unexampled activity
and vigilance for a series of years past. The temerity of such of our ene-
mies as have attempted to approach our coast has been punished by your
activity, while the name of BROOKIN« has struck terror in our neigh-
bouring enemies, and has awed them from attempting depredations on us.
We trust that a conduct so manifestly essential to the interest and security
of the island will be properly reported, and duly rewarded. We are, with
unfeigned respect, Sir, your obedient and very 'humble servants."

[Here follow twenty-seven signatures.]

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 41

The services more particularly alluded to in the foregoing
address, were the capture of a number of privateers, and the
recapture of several valuable Jamaica ships. The following
little affair we notice on account of its ludicrous nature :

Captain Brooking having received information that some
French privateers were in the habit of sending their prizes to
a river near Cape Cruz, on the Cuba shore, whither they also
repaired to rendezvous and refit, he one night stretched over
and took a station for commencing operations in the morn-
ing. At day-light, however, he unexpectedly found himself
within gun-shot of a battery presenting rather a formidable
appearance ; opposite which, as soon as enabled by the sea-
breeze, he took his position, placing a prize with a carronade
in her to flank the enemy's work. The shallowness of the
water prevented him approaching so near as he could have
wished. Some time after he had opened his fire, he was
surprised at seeing the Spaniards run down to the beach and
pick up the shot which had fallen short ; and it subsequently
turned out, that until they had thus supplied themselves, it
was not in their power to return his fire. Observing from
the mast-head that the privateers had run a considerable dis-
tance up the river, and that a great number of people were
collected in the fort, he did not consider it expedient to at-
tempt a landing, or to throw away more ammunition ; there-
fore, as soon as his crew had dined, took his departure for
Jamaica.

The climate of the West Indies proved so injurious to
Captain Brooking's health, that he was at length compelled
to quit it, and return to England, at the period we have above
stated ; from which time we lose sight of him until Aug. 31,
1819, the date of his superannuation as a Rear-Admiral.

Residence. — Plymouth, Devon.

HENRY EVANS, ESQ.

THIS officer was, we believe, a protege of the late Sir Pe-
ter Parker, Bart. Admiral of the Fleet. He commanded the
Fury sloop of war, and captured 1'Elize, a French schooner of
10 guns, in 1795 j assisted at the reduction of St. Lucia, in

42 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

May 1796 * ; and was present at the unsuccessful attack upon
Porto Rico in the following year. His post commission bears
date June 20, 1797- During part of the late war he com-
manded the Cork district of Sea Fencibles. On the 9th
March 1819, he was chosen M. P. for Wexford, which place
he represented until the dissolution of parliament in the fol-
lowing year. His superannuation as a Rear-Admiral took
place July 26, 1821.

Residence. — Wexford, Ireland.

SIR WILLIAM OGILVY, BART.

(Of tnnerquharity, Forfar shire, North Britain.)
THIS officer's patent of Baronetcy is dated 1626; that of
the Premier Baronet of Scotland, 1625. He entered the naval
service in 1773j and was made a Lieutenant into the Boston ;
on board of which frigate he was severely wounded whilst
endeavouring to suppress a mutiny in 1782. He subse-
quently joined the Polyphemus 64, and was in the partial ac-
tion with the combined fleets off Cape Spartel, October 20, hi
the same year f, after which that ship was detached to the
West Indies, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir R. Hughes.
At the commencement of the French war in 1793, he was
appointed first Lieutenant of the Robust 74 ; and from the
time Toulon was taken possession of by the allied forces until
its final evacuation, we find him acting as commander of that
ship, her proper Captain (Elphinstone) holding an import-
ant command on shore J. He was afterwards removed as
first Lieutenant into the Glory, a second rate, forming part of
the grand fleet under Earl Howe ; and obtained the rank of
Commander in consequence of that nobleman's victory over
the republican fleet, on the 1st of June, 1794 §.
In 1795, Captain Ogilvy commanded the Lark sloop of war •

» See Vol. I. note f, at p. 134.

f The British Fleet, under Lord Howe, after throwing supplies into
Gibraltar, was pursued and attacked by the combined fleets of France and
Spain. The firing continued from sun-set until 10 P. M. but the dis-
tance between the hostile forces was so great that it produced little effect
on either side. The next morning the enemy were seen standing to the
N. W. The loss sustained by the British fleet amounted to 68 killed, and
208 wounded.

J See Vol. I. pp. 46, 60, and 294.

§ See Vol. I. note at p. 75, ft feq.

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. ^

and after receiving on board some French royalists in the ri-
ver Elbe, proceeded in company with the Venus and Leda
frigates to join the expedition under Sir John B. Warren in
Quiberon Bay, where he arrived in time to render a most
essential service, for which he received the thanks of Earl
Spencer, then at the head of the Admiralty, and of the Com-
modore.

In our first volume, at pp. 169 and 1JO, we have given an
outline of the operations carried on by the British and emi-
grant forces in the summer of 1795. Our readers will remem-
ber that, owing to the misconduct and treachery of the latter,
Fort Penthievre, which, from its situation on a hill, com-
mands the peninsula of Quiberon, was retaken by the enemy
on the night of July 20th. At day-break on the following
morning it was discovered that the republicans had advanced
towards the S. E. point of the peninsula, and with some field
pieces were driving before them the scattered royalists, who
threw away their arms, divested themselves of their clothes,
and plunged from the rocks into the sea, swimming to the
boats which were sent from the British ships to receive them.
Captain Ogilvy, on the fort being attacked, had slipped his
cable, and ran so close in shore that the Lark had but one
foot water more than she drew. He then opened and kept up
.a heavy and well-directed fire, which had the effect of turning
the enemy's column, killing the General who commanded,
together- with many of his men, and thus afforded time for
the boats, under the able directions of Captain (now Sir R.
G.) Keats, to embark upwards of 2000 royalist inhabitants,
and about 1100 emigrant troops.

• In March 1796, the Lark assisted at the unsuccessful attack
made on the town and fort of Leogane, in the island of St.
Domingo. From that vessel Captain Ogilvy was removed to
the Thunderer 74, in which ship he chased and obliged the
Harmony, a frigate of the largest class, recently received
by the French government as a present from the United
States of America, to seek refuge in Mustique harbour, where
she was burnt by the enemy, to prevent her falling into his
hands. He continued to be employed off St. Domingo until
the final evacuation of that island; on which occasion, in
conjunction with the present Rear-Admiral Cochet, he su-

44 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

perintended the embarkation of our troops and the French
royalists ; which service was conducted with great order and
regularity. His post commission bears date July 5, 1797-

Captain Ogilvy's next appointment was to the Magicienne
frigate ; and in her he appears to have made several valuable
captures. In February 1801, when the French Admiral Gan-
theaume put to sea from Brest, with seven sail of the line
and two frigates, the Magicienne was attached to a squadron
of equal force, under the orders of Sir Robert Calder, detach-
ed from the Channel fleet in pursuit of them. The ships hav-
ing been dispersed by a heavy gale of wind, during which the
Montagu 74 was dismasted, the Telegraph schooner founder-
ed, and the Magicienne had nearly shared the same fate,
Captain Ogilvy, after tracing the enemy to the Mediterranean,
followed the Rear-Admiral to Jamaica, with the information
of their real destination.

Sir William Ogilvy has not been employed since the peace
of Amiens j about which period he married the eldest daughter
of the late James Morley, Esq. His superannuation as a
Rear- Admiral took place December 6, 182] .

Residence. — Dundee, Scotland.

SIR ROBERT BARLOW, KNT.

Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath ;
Fellow of the Royal Society ; and late Commistioner of Chatham Dock-
Yard.

THIS officer is the eldest son of the late William Barlow,
of Bath, co. Somerset, Esq. by Hilare, daughter of Robert
Butcher, of Walthamstow, in Essex, Esq. and was born in
London, December 25, 1757. His youngest surviving bro-
ther, George H. Barlow, formerly Governor-General of India,
was created a Baronet June 29, 1803. The family appear to
have been settled originally at Fordbridge, in Staffordshire.

We are not acquainted with the exact period at which Mr.
Barlow entered the naval service j but we know that he served
with credit under the late Earl Howe and Lord Mulgrave,
during the whole of the American war. His promotion to
the rank of Lieutenant took place in November, 1778 ; and
he appears to have assisted at the capture of la Minerve, a
French frigate of 32 guns and 316 men, Jan. 4, 1781, and to

SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS. 45

have accompanied the grand fleet to the relief of Gibraltar in
1782 ; on which latter occasion he was first Lieutenant of the
Courageux 74.

From 1786 till 1789, Lieutenant Barlow commanded the
Barracouta cutter, and cruised with very great success against
the smugglers. In 1790, he was promoted to the rank of
Commander, and soon after appointed to the Childers brig of
16 guns, with orders to resume his former station on the
coast of Cornwall. As this appointment was given him by
the Admiralty, without any solicitation on the part of himself
or his friends, we may reasonably conclude, it was in conse-
quence of the favorable impression made on their Lordships'
minds by the long list of captures which he had transmitted to
the Board, when superseded in the command of the Barracouta,
at the expiration of the usual period of service. Whatever
might have been their expectations as to his future exertions,
it is certain they were not disappointed, Captain Barlow
having captured several fine vessels laden with contraband
.goods, one of which was a new cutter of one hundred and
fifty tons, with a cargo of one thousand ankers of spirits.

On the 2d Jan. 1793, a few weeks previous to the declara-
tion of war by the French National Convention against Great
Britain, the Childers, whilst reconnoitring the port of Brest,
was fired at by a battery, from which she was not more than
three-quarters of a mile distant. Imagining the national cha-
racter of his vessel was doubted, Captain Barlow immediately
hoisted his colours, whereupon the republicans displayed the
French ensign, with a red pendant over it ; and the signal
was immediately answered by the adjacent forts, which
opened a heavy cross fire upon the little brig ; and she must
inevitably have been destroyed, if a breeze springing up had
not enabled her to stem the tide, by which she had been
driven close to the entrance of the harbour. Fortunately,
being so small an object, she was hit by only one shot, a 48-
pounder, which struck one of her guns, and then split into
three pieces, but providentially did not injure a man. This
was the first act of decided hostility committed against Great
Britain ; and on the 15th of the following month, Captain
Barlow, being off Gravelines, captured le Patriote privateer,
the first armed vessel taken from the French republic.

Captain Barlow obtained post rank May 24, 1793 j com-

46 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

manded the Pegasus of 28 guns, one of the repeating frigates
to Earl Howe's fleet, on the memorable 1st June, 1794*;
and subsequently the Aquilon and Phoebe frigates, the latter
mounting 44 guns, with a complement of 261 men.

His appointment to the latter ship was in Dec. 1/95 ; and
on the 10th Jan. 1797? he captured 1'Atalante, a French cor-
vette of 16 guns f. On the 21st Dec. following, being on a
cruise to the westward, he discovered and immediately pur-
sued an enemy's frigate ; but the difference in point of sailing
between the two ships being inconsiderable, the Phoebe sus-
tained much damage in her masts, sails, and rigging, from
the Frenchman's stern guns, before she could close with
the chase : and at the moment when Captain Barlow was
about to commence the attack, his opponent hove in stays.
The Phoebe being under a crowd of sail, the night extremely
dark, and her commander not aware of the enemy's intention
to practise this manosuvre, a few minutes necessarily elapsed
before he could get fairly alongside. The action commenced
at ten P. M., and continued about three quarters of an hour,
when the French ship surrendered, and proved to be la Ne-
reide of 36 guns and 330 men, 20 of whom were slain and
55 wounded. The Phrebe had 3 men killed and 10 wounded.

Subsequent to this event, Captain Barlow captured 1'Ha-
zard, of 10 guns and 60 men, laden with spices, ivory, and
gum, from Senegal, valued at 10,000/. sterling ; three French
privateers, mounting in the whole 58 guns, and manned with
455 men; and 1'Heureux, a flush-decked ship of 22 brass
12-pounders and 220 men. The latter vessel, mistaking the
JPhcebe for an East Indiaman, bore down, and did not discover
her error until within musket-shot, when she commenced a
well-directed and spirited fire, by which 1 man was killed
and 5 wounded on board the British frigate. The enemy,
however, paid, dear for his temerity, being soon obliged to
strike, with the loss of 18 men slain and 25 wounded.
* See Vol. I, p. 75, et seq.

t L'Atalante had sailed from Brest in company with a powerful fleet,
under the orders of M. de Galles, having on board 25,000 troops, com-
manded by General Hoche, destined for the invasion of Ireland. The
outset of this expedition was attended by several disasters, and the whole
project was defeated by the elements. Many of the vessels composing
the armament were either captured or wrecked, and several foundered ;
the remainder returned to France in a wretched condition.

SUPER ANN UAT-ED REAR-ADMIRALS. 4/

This affair occurred March 5, 1800 ; and from that period
until Feb. 19th, in the following year, we find no particular
mention of Captain Barlow. On the latter day, being near
Gibraltar, he discovered an enemy's frigate close to Ceuta,
steering under a press of sail to the eastward. At 7h 30*
P. M., he had the good fortune to bring her to close action,
which was maintained with unremitting fury within pistol-
shot about two hours; the French commander resolutely
opposing the animated and skilful exertions of Captain
Barlow, until his ship was almost a wreck, with five feet water
in her hold, several of her guns dismounted, and her decks
encumbered with dead and dying men. At length she sur-
rendered, and proved to be 1'Africaine of 44 guns and 315
men, besides 400 troops and artificers, under the command
of General Desfourneaux, having on board 6 brass field-pieces,
several thousand stand of arms, and a great quantity of am-
munition, from Rochefort bound to Egypt.

The tremendous and well-directed fire from the Phoebe,
was productive of dreadful slaughter on board l'Africaine,
whose loss amounted to 200 men, including M. de Saunier,
Chief of Division, with many of the principal sea and land
officers slain, and 143 wounded *.

The Phosbe, although her net complement, including 18
boys, was 261, had sailed from Cork 7 men short, and had
since manned and sent to Gibraltar one recaptured vessel,
and another detained under suspicious circumstances ; so
that the total number on board was only 239. Of these
but 1 man was slain, and 12 wounded.

For his courage and excellent conduct on this occasion,
Captain Barlow was deservedly rewarded with the honor of
knighthood, June 16, 1801, and soon after appointed to the
Triumph of 74 guns ; in which ship he served on the Mediter-
ranean station until the latter end of the year 1804, when she
returned to England, and was put out of commission. In
the autumn of 1805, Sir Robert obtained the command of
the London, a second rate, from whence he was removed
into the Barfleur, a ship of the same class, some time previous

* A return to this effect, signed by her commander, Captain Majeadie,
whose name appears in the latter list, was presented to Captain Barlow ;
but the former officer at the same time stated, that the report probably
fell short of the actual loss sustained, especially in killed.

48 SUPERANNUATED REAR-ADMIRALS.

to his being nominated First Captain of the North Sea fleet,
under Lord Keith. His next appointment was in the summer
of 1806, to be Deputy Comptroller of the Navy ; an office
which he held until Sept. 1808, when he succeeded the late
Captain Charles Hope, as Commissioner of Chatham Dock-
yard. He was created an extra K. C. B. May 20, 1820 * ; and
superannuated with the rank of Rear-Admiral, Jan. 24, 1823.

Sir Robert Barlow married, Sept. 8, 1785, Elizabeth,
daughter of William Garrett, of Worting, co. Southampton,
Esq., and by that lady, who died Sept. 17, 1817, had several
sons and daughters : of the latter, one is married to the Right
Hon. Viscount Torrington f ; another to her cousin, George
Ulric, eldest son of Sir George H. Barlow ; and a third to
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Dashwood, of the 3d regiment of
guards, second son of Sir Henry Dashwood, Bart.

Agent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney.

PERCY FRASER, ESQ.

Late a Commissioner of the Navy Board.

THIS officer was a Lieutenant in 1789 ; commanded the
Savage sloop of war, in 1791 ; the Moselle, in 1794 ; and ob-
tained post rank March 27, 1795. In the following year we
find him commanding the Narcissus of 20 guns, on the coast
of America ; from whence he proceeded to the West Indies,
where his ship was wrecked, but fortunately her crew escaped.
His next appointment was to la Nymphe, in which frigate he
captured la Modeste, a French letter of marque, laden with
East India produce, and several other vessels. After com-
manding la Nymphe about four years, he removed into the
Narcissus of 36 guns, and continued in that ship during the
remainder of the war. We subsequently find him in the
Vanguard 74.

In 1808, Captain Fraser was appointed resident Commis-
sioner of the Dock-yard at Malta ; from whence he removed to
Gibraltar, about the summer of 1811. Towards the latter
end of 1813, he obtained a seat at the Navy Board, from which
he retired with the superannuation of a Rear -Admiral, June 12,
1823. He married, Sept. 26, 1797, Elizabeth, eldest daughter
of John, 5th Vise. Torrington, and sister of the present peer.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

* See Vol. I, iiote §, at p. 116. f See Vol. I, p. 663 *.

RETIRED CAPTAINS.
ROBERT FANSHAWE, ESQ.

Lute Commissioner of Plymouth Dock Yard.

Tins officer, a son of the late Captain Farishawe, R. N.,
was born in America, about the month of Jan. 1740 ; entered
the naval service as a Midshipman on board the Salisbury
of 50 guns, in 1753; and proceeded in that ship to the East
Indies, in company with a small squadron commanded by
the late Vice-Admiral Charles Watson, under whom he
served at the reduction of Geriah, a strong fortress, the re-
sidence of the piratical chief Angria j the recapture of Cal-
cutta ; and the taking of Chandernagor, the principal French
settlement in the province of Bengal *. He also bore a
part in the three general actions between Vice-Admiral Po-
cock and the Count d'Ache, in 1758 and 1759 f. His

* Vice-Admiral Watson fell a sacrifice to the unwholesomeness of the
East India climate, Aug. 15, 1757. The East India Company, as a tes-
timony of their gratitude for the services he had rendered them, caused a
beautiful monument to be erected to his memory, in Westminster Abbey ;
and the King was pleased to create his son a Baronet. The operations of
his squadron will be found fully detailed in the first volume of Schom-
berg's Naval Chronology.

f On the death of Vice-Admiral Watson, his friend Pocock succeeded
to the command of the squadron in India, and three times defeated a su-
perior force under M. d'Ache*. When General Lally was brought pri-
soner to Eugland, after the reduction of Pondicherry, immediately on his
arrival he begged to be introduced to Admiral (then Sir George) Pocock ;
whom he no sooner saw, than he flew to embrace him, and thus addressed
him : " Dear Sir George, as the first man in your profession, I cannot but
esteem and respect you, though you have been the greatest enemy I ever
had. But for you, I had triumphed in India, instead of being made a cap-
tive. When we first sailed out to give you battle, I had provided a num-
ber of musicians on board the Zodiac, intending to give the ladies a ball
upon our victory ; but you left me only three of my fiddlers alive, and
treated us all so roughly, that you quite spoiled us for dancing." Sir
George Pocock, as is well known, commanded the fleet employed in the
reduction of the Havannah. He died in Curzon Street, May Fair, April
3, 1792, in his 87th year.

VOL. IT. E

50 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

commission as Lieutenant bears date Sept. 11, in the latter
year.

The Tiger of 60 guns, into which ship Mr. Fanshawe had
been promoted, being found unserviceable, he returned to
England in a merchant- vessel ; and a few months after his
arrival, was made a Commander, by commission dated Aug.
23, 1762. Towards the close of that war he commanded
the Carcass bomb ; and subsequently, the Speedwell sloop
of war., in which he was employed, principally on the Ame-
rican station, for a period of three years. His advance-
ment to the rank of Post-Captain took place May 26, 1768,
one day previous to a grand promotion.

Early in 1769, Captain Fanshawe obtained the command
of the Lively, a small frigate, in which he continued until
the autumn of 1770'' From that time he does not appear
to have been again afloat till 1775; when, in consequence of
the dispute which had then reached a most serious height
between Great Britain and her trans-atlantic colonies, he
was appointed to the Carysfort of 28 guns, and ordered to
America, where he fully established his character as a brave,
skilful, and vigilant officer.

The Carysfort formed part of the squadron commanded
by Commodore Hotham at the reduction of New York, in
Sept. 1776 * ; and was afterwards employed in a variety of
active service under Lord Howe. From that frigate Captain
Fanshawe was removed into the Monmouth 64, which ship
greatly distinguished herself in the action between Byron
and d'Estaing, off Grenada, July 6, 1779? and was most
dreadfully cut up, in consequence of her bearing away to
bring the van of the enemy to close action, and thereby
prevent the capture of several British transports. Her
loss on this occasion amounted to 25 men killed and 28
wounded f.

* See p. 56.

f On the 13th April, 1778, at which period the junction of France added
strength and confidence to our revolted colonies, the Count d'Estaing sailed
from Toulon with ten ships of the line, one of 50 guns, five frigates, and a
corvette, destined for North America Although the sailing of this arma-
ment was made known to the British Government on the 27th of the same
month, no measures were taken to intercept it until the 5th June ; when
Vice-Admiral Byron, with twelve sail of the line and one frigate, was sent
in pursuit of the enemy. In consequence of a succession of heavy gales

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 51

Early in 1780, Captain Fanshawe removed into the Eg-
inont of 74 guns j and in that ship he experienced a most

of wind, the British ships were dispersed in their passage across the At-
lantic, and it was the middle of September before they all met at New
York ; from whence the Vice- Admiral proceeded to cruise off Boston,
where the French squadron had taken shelter.

Soon after the British squadron reached Boston Bay, a tremendous
storm arose, and so disabled the ships that they were obliged to put into
Rhode Island to refit. The Count d'Estaing seized this favorable moment
to slip out of port and steer for the West Indies, whither he was followed
by Vice-Admiral Byron towards the latter end of the year.

During the winter, both fleets were reinforced. The Count, however,
did not choose to risk an action, although frequently tempted to do so.
At length the season arriving for the departure of the trade bound to Eng-
land, Vice-Admiral Byron was under the necessity of going to St. Chris-
topher's to collect them, and of proceeding to windward of the islands, for
their protection. On his return to St. Lucia, July 1st, he received intelli-
gence that the island of St. Vincent had been taken by a small body of
French, not exceeding 450 in number, headed by a naval Lieutenant ;
also that the Count d'Estaing had availed himself of the absence of the
British fleet, to attack Grenada. The Vice-Admiral immediately sailed to
the relief of that island ; but before his arrival, the garrison, after making
a very able and gallant defence, were obliged to surrender at discretion.

At day-break on the morning of the 6th, two days after the capture of
Grenada, Vice-Admiral Byron discovered the French fleet getting under
sail from St. George's Bay, and . stretching out to sea. The signal was
immediately made for a general chase, and for the shipa to engage as they
came up with the enemy. At 7h 30' A. M., Rear-Admiral Barring ton, in
the Prince of Wales, supported by six other ships, commenced a partial
action with almost the whole of the French line, whose advantage in point
of sailing, enabled them to elude every effort of the British to bring on a
general and decisive battle. In this unequal conflict, the Grafton, Corn-
wall, Lion, and Monmouth, sustained the fire of the whole French fleet,
consisting of one ship of 96 guns, and twenty-one two-deckers, as they passed
them on the opposite tack, and were very much disabled. The action
ceased about noon, but was renewed at 2h P. M., and a random fire kept
up until the evening, when the hostile fleets had increased their distance
about three rnileti. The Lion and Monmouth sustained so much damage
that they were little better thun wrecks, and narrowly escaped being cut
off by the enemy. The former bore away for Jamaica, and the latter pro-
ceeded to Antigua to refit.- »»oiJiix » .

The loss sustained by the British fleet, which consisted of one 98-gun
ship and sixteen two-deckers, was 183 killed and 346 wounded; among the
latter was the gallant Barrington. The slaughter on board the French
ships, owing to the vast number of troops embarked, was prodigious.; the
lowest estimate states it at 1,200 killed and 1,500 wounded.

JE 2

52 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

dreadful hurricane, which spread desolation over the whole
of the West India Islands, particularly Barbadoes, Marti-
nique, and Jamaica : several ships of war and merchant-
vessels were lost, with the greater part of their crews *; the
Egmont, however, escaped with the loss of all her masts,
and in the following year was ordered to escort a large fleet
to England. On approaching the Channel, Captain Fan-
shawe received intelligence of the combined fleets of France
and Spain, amounting to forty-nine sail of the line, being on
the look-out for his valuable charge ; which induced him to
take them north about, and thus prevented the greater part
from falling into the hands of the enemy. For his judicious
conduct on this critical occasion, he received the thanks of
the Admiralty, and was presented with the freedom of Edin-
burgh.

The Egmont having been paid off soon after her arrival,
Captain Fanshawe was for a short time out of employ ; but
happening fortunately to be at Plymouth when Sir George
B. Rodney was about to sail from that port to resume the
chief command in the West Indies, and the Captain of the
Namur, a 90-gun ship, having desired to be superseded, he
was immediately sent for to fill up the vacancy, — an ap-
pointment as sudden and unexpected as it was compli-
mentary on the 'part of the Admiral. His conduct as one
of Rodney's supporters, on the glorious 12th April, 1782,
is too well known and too highly appreciated to require re-
petition f.

Captain Fanshawe retained the command of the Namur
until the termination of the war in 1783, and was afterwards

" See Vol. I, pp. 68, 105, et seq.

t Sir George B. Rodney formed a junction with Sir Samuel Hood, off
Antigua, Feb. 25, 1782; and on the 8th April following, whilst refitting
his fleet at St. Lucia, received intelligence that the enemy were coming out
of Port Royal Bay. Before day-light on the following morning, he came
up with the French fleet near the island of Dominica. A partial action en-
sued ; but notwithstanding the greatest exertions were used by the British,
nothing decisive could be effected till the. 12th ; on which day a most com-
plete victory was gained over the enemy, commanded by the Count de
Grasse, who was himself captured, with the Vllle de Paris, and four other
ships of the line, besides one sunk in the action : for a more particular ac-
count of which we must refer our readers to Vol. I, p. 35, et seq.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 53

appointed to the Bombay Castle 74, stationed at Plymouth
as a guard-ship. In April 1784, he was elected M. P. for
that borough, which he represented till the year 1789, when
he vacated his seat on receiving a patent as Resident Com-
missioner of Plymouth Dock- Yard, the duties of which office
he performed in the most exemplary manner upwards of
twenty-six years. He died at Stonehall, Stonehouse, co.
Devon, Feb. 4, 1823 ; at which period, had he accepted his
flag, he would have been the senior Admiral of the Red.

The following is the introduction to a brief notice of Cap-
tain Fanshawe's services, which we have met with in a small
volume of naval biography, published in 1788 : — " Captain
Robert Fanshawe," says the writer, " is one of the ablest
officers the British fleet can boast ;—cool, collected, brave,
and active ; ever ready for service when called upon, and
rigidly attentive to the most trivial, as well as the more im-
portant duties of his station. It may with truth be observed
of him, that his ship is like his mansion,— the ship's com-
pany his family ; the former in a constant state of regularity,
the latter governed by a rigid but a just hand. A scrupu-
lous observer of the relative duties he owes his country as a
citizen and a soldier, Captain Fanshawe exacts a like con-
duct on the part of all with whom he may have any concern.

L XT- • '1 'Vi »

whether civil or military.

Captain Fanshawe married Christiana, daughter of John
Gennys, Esq., and by that lady had issue three sons and nine
daughters. His eldest son, Robert, Captain of the Carys-
fort frigate, died at Antigua in 1804 : although a very young
man, he had given repeated proofs of his skill, zeal, and gal-
lantry, in which he was surpassed by few, if any officers, of
his age and standing in the profession ; of which, had he been
spared, he would no doubt have been a great ornament.
The second son, Edward, is a Major in the Royal Engineers ;
and the youngest, Arthur, a Post-Captain, R. N. The names
of the daughters are as follow : — Christiana, married the
Rev. Francis Haggitt, D. D. Prebendary and Sub-Dean of
Durham, died in 1810. Elizabeth, married to F. Glanville,
Esq. Susan, married to Vice- Admiral Bedford. Catharine,
married to Sir T. Byam Martin, K. C. B., Comptroller of
the Navy. Cordelia, married Captain J. C. White, R. N.,

54 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

died about 1809. Anne, unmarried. Mary, married Vice-
Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, K. C. B. Penelope,
widow of Colonel Duckworth, who fell in the battle of Al-
buera, May 16, 1811 ; and Harriet, unmarried.

SIR ANDREW SNAPE HAMOND, BART.

One of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House; a Fellow of the Royal

Society ; and formerly Comptroller of the Navy.
THIS venerable and much respected officer is the only son
of the late Robert Hamond, Esq., who died in 1775, by Su-
sanna, daughter and sole heiress of Robert Snape, Esq. ; and
uncle of the gallant Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, who com-
manded the Queen Charlotte, bearing Earl Howe's flag, and
Was severely wounded in the celebrated battle of June 1,

1794*

'inaJV vtt)''oh

* A most interesting memoir of Sir Andrew Snape. Douglas appears in the

Naval Chronicle, Vol. 25, p. 363, et sea. The following is an extract
therefrom:

" On Sunday, Jane 4, 1797, after an agonizing' illness, which he bore
with a fortitude that exemplified.au unshaken confidence in bis God, died
in the 35th year of his age, Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, nephew of Sir
Andrew Snape Hamond, Bart. — He was late Captain of H. M. S. Queen
Charlotte, and Colonel of Marines. As an officer in his Majesty's navy,
few have ever equalled him ; and for activity and courage none faaW tmf-
passedhim. His career of glory was therefore brilliant, thougfc his life
was short. No name stands higher in the list of fame — no name has been
more justly celebrated for acts of heroism on the Memorable 1st of June.
Severely wounded on that day in the head, he scorned. .to feave his station

beyoud the moment that was necessary to stop ^he,flo\y of blood ;. but he

j i

exerted nature almost beyond her powers.

" On the victorious 23d June, 1795, when no ships were in a sitnation
to support him, but the Irresistible and Orion ; undaunted by the heavy
fire of nine sail of the enemy's fleet, he boldly arrested their flight, at the
very mouth of 1'Orient : and to his intrepidity and perseverance, England
stands chiefly indebted for the capture of three ships of the line.

' [TO >^}8 9il I

" His benevolence as a man equalled his gallantry as an officer ; and he
proved on all occasions, a father to those whom he commanded. He was
a true Christian, a dutiful son, an affectionate brother, a tender and faithful
husband, a most indulgent parent, and a warm, generous, and firm friend.
As a patriot and a public character, his death, particularly at this mo-
mentous crisis *, is a loss which cannot but be painfully regretted.
1

* During Sir Apdrew'* painful illness, the mutiny in the fleet broke out.
See Vol. I. p. 548, et sea.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 55

He was bom at Greenwich in Dec. 173^ ; entered the na-
val service in 1J53 ; and was appointed a Lieutenant of the
Magnanime 74, at the particular request of her Captain, the
late Earl Howe, in June 1759. He served under that officer
and H. R. H. the late Duke of York, until the end of the
seven-years' war *, was made a Commander in the Savage
sloop, about 1765, and obtained the rank of Post-Captain Dec.

7, 1770.

After serving for some time as Flag-Captain to Lord H.otore,
in the Barfleur of 90 guns, be obtained the command of the
Arethusa frigate, in which he was employed on the American
station nearly four years. At the commencement of the co-
lonial war he joined the Roebuck, a new ship mounting 44
guns on two decks, and soon after entered upon a series of
most active and perilous services, in the rivers Delaware and
Chesapeake.

In the month of June, 1776, Captain Hamond accom-

" But who can speak the deep and lasting sorrows to which his family
and friends are now devoted ! Here, alas, words are useless. Draw then
the mournful veil, and ' LET EXPRESSIVE SILENCE MUSE HIS PRAISE'."

Sir Andrew Snape Douglas was distantly related to the Marquis
Douglas, and bore the same arms. — The regard which his late Majesty re*-
tained for the memory of this lamented officer, is exemplified by the fol-
lowing anecdote :— The King having often inquired whether it wqre pos-
sible for him to have a bust of Sir Andrew, his uncle carried one to the
Queen's house, and placed it in one of the rooms through which the royal
family were to pass, on their return from the chapel. His Majesty imme-
diately recognized the well-known features of his faithful servant, and in
a manner that did the highest honor to his feelings! Having shewn the
bust to all the royal family, the monarch then to'ok it in his own hands,
and placed it over a book-case, where it ever afterwards -emained.

* The Magnanime formed part of Sir Edward Hawke's fleet, in the
action off Quiberon, Nov. 20, 1759, on which occasion the French lost sif
ships of the line : viz. le Formidable of 80 guns, captured; le Soleil Royale,
of the same force, bearing the flag of Admiral de Conflans, and 1'Heros 74,
driven on shore and burnt ; le These'e 74, and Superbe 70, iunk with their
crews on board ; and le Juste of 70 guns, wrecked. The British fleet con-
sisted of twenty-three sail of the line, two of which, ,the Resolution of. 74
guns, and Essex 64, were lost on the Four Banks. The enemy had twenty-
one line-of-battle ships, two frigates, and one corvette ; their loss, if we
may judge from the carnage made on board le Formidable, which vessel
had about 200 men, including Rear-Admiral de Verger, killed, must have
been considerable. On our side 50 were slain, and about 250 wounded.

56 RETIRKD CAPTAINS.

panied Vice-Admiral Lord Shuldham and his military col-
league, General Sir William Howe, on an expedition against
New York. On the 3d July the fleet passed the bar at
Sandy Hook, and anchored off Staten Island, which was
taken possession of by the troops without resistance. On
the 14th, Admiral Lord Howe arrived from England, and
assumed the chief command of the naval forces on the coast
of America *.

In order to facilitate the reduction of New York, Com-
modore Hotham was detached with a squadron to Gravesend
Bay, Long Island, to cover the landing of 15,000 troops,
under the command of Generals Howe, Clinton, and Lord
Cornwallis. On the 25th Aug. some ships of war, under
the orders of Sir Peter Parker, were directed to approach
nearer to the town ; and another small squadron, of which
the Roebuck formed a part, was sent to cover the general
attack. At day-break on the 27th, the naval force made
a diversion, which perfectly succeeded ; and in the evening
the army encamped in front of the enemy's works. The
siege continued until the 15th Sept.; on which day, the first
division of troops, having embarked at Newton Creek, landed
upon New York Island, under cover of the Phoenix and
Roebuck, at a place called Keep's Bay, about three miles dis-
tant from the town. As soon as the second division was
landed, the Americans retired to Morris's height ; and New
York was taken possession of by a brigade of royal troops
the same evening. General Washington subsequently re-
treated into the Jerseys, pursued by the British, who before
the end of November were in possession of almost the whole
of those provinces.

On the 9th Oct. Captain Hamond accompanied Captains
Hyde Parker and Cornthwaite Ommanney, of the Phoenix
and Tartar, up the North River, for the purpose of intercept-
big any supplies which might be sent to the rebels by that
channel. The ships sustained a heavy cannonade on passing
the enemy's batteries, by which the Roebuck had 10 men,
including a Lieutenant, killed, and 18 wounded.

On the 23d July, 1777? Lord Howe sailed from Sandy

* The Thirteen United Provinces of America declared their independency
July 4, 1776.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 57

Hook with a fleet of two hundred and sixty -seven sail, hav-
ing on board a considerable body of troops, destined for
the reduction of Philadelphia. Owing to calms and adverse
winds, it was the 14th Aug. before his Lordship reached the
Chesapeake. On the llth Sept. the Americans were de-
feated in a severe battle fought at Brandywine ; General
Washington fled to Philadelphia ; but fiitding that he could
not maintain his position there, without the hazard of a ge-
neral action, abandoned that capital to its fate, and continued
his retreat several miles higher up the river. A few days
after, the Delaware frigate, assisted by some other armed
vessels, attempted to obstruct the British troops, who were
employed to erect batteries next the sea. Upon the falling
of the tide, she got aground, and was taken possession of by
the Roebuck : her consorts cut their cables and pushed up
the river. Captain Hamond appointed his first Lieutenant
to command the prize, who pursued and destroyed the whole
of them, amounting to seventeen sail. Before the ships of
war could proceed higher up the river, it was necessary that
several machines, resembling chevaux-de-fri/e, which the
enemy had sunk to block up the passage, should be removed.
This arduous undertaking was entrusted to Captain Hamond,
who, after much perseverance and great exertions, succeeded
in weighing a sufficient number of them to secure a safe
channel for the ships, notwithstanding he was greatly an-
noyed by the enemy's floating batteries. The next object
was to dislodge the Americans from the strong posts which
they held at Red Bank and Mud Island. To effect this ser-
vice, on the 22d Oct. the Augusta, Somerset, Isis, and Mer-
lin, commanded by Captains Reynolds, Cornwallis, Ourry,
and Reeve, were ordered to cannonade the batteries on the
island ; and a detachment of Hessian soldiers under Count
Donop, were at the same time directed to attack the re-
boubt on Red Bank. The Augusta and Merlin took the
ground in a situation which prevented them from firing with
much effect ; they however kept up a heavy cannonade,
and baffled the efforts of the enemy, who sent down several
fire-rafts and heavy gun- vessels to destroy them. Unfortu-
nately, the Augusta, by some accident, took fire ; and the
other ships being obliged to withdraw, the Roebuck covered

58 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

her till she blew up, to prevent the Americans getting pos-
session of her. This service Captain Hamond performed
under a very severe fire, his springs having been cut three
several times ; and when heaving upon the fourth, 14 men
were knocked down by one shot, which completely cleared
two opposite capstern bars. The Augusta having at length
exploded, and involved in her destruction the Merlin, the
Hessians being at the same time repulsed with dreadful
slaughter, he felt it necessary to retire from his very perilous
situation *.

On the 15th November, a more vigorous and successful at-
tack was made on Mud Island, by the Somerset, Isis, Roe-
buck, Pearl, Liverpool, and three smaller vessels : the can-
nonade was so furious that the enemy were driven from their
guns, and retired in great confusion. Those on the main
soon shared the fate of their countrymen on the island ; by
which means a free communication was opened with Phila-
delphia by water. The Roebuck, on this occasion, had 3
men killed and 7 wounded. The total loss sustained by the
other ships was no more than 3 slain and 13 wounded.

During the ensuing two years Captain Hamond was con-
stantly employed on a variety of hazardous services, rendered
necessary by the 'peculiar nature of the war. In February,
1780, he accompanied Vice- Admiral Arbuthnot, who had re-
cently hoisted his flag in the Roebuck as Commander-
in-Chief on the American station, on an expedition against
Charlestown, in South Carolina; from whence he returned to
England with the official despatches relative to its reduction.
During the operations against that place he appears to have
acted per order as Captain of the Fleetf.

.
* Mud Fort is situated on the Pennsylvauia shore, and Red Bank on the

Jersey side, near the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.

•f In consequence of the badness of the weather, and the annoyance
which the boats employed to sound the channel sustained from the ene-
mies' gallics, it was not till the 20th March that the British squadron was
.able to pass the bar ; when the enemy, who had a considerable naval force
in the harbour, which was drawn up in order of battle, as if determined
to dispute the passage, abandoned their position and retired towards the
town, where most of the armed ships, with several merchant vessels,
were sunk to obstruct the navigation.

On the requisition of Sir Henry Clinton some heavy guns were landed

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 59

Towards the latter end of the same year Captain Hamond,
who had previously received the honor of knighthood, was ap-
pointed Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in- Chief of Nova
Scotia, and Commodore and Resident Commissioner at Halifax,
where he remained until the conclusion of the war ; when he
en._ "ked as a passenger on board the Caton of 64 guns,
from which ship he removed on her arrival at Antigua, to re-
pair the damages she had sustained in a heavy gale of wind
near the banks of Newfoundland, into the Amazon privateer,
in which vessel he returned to England about June, 1783.

On the 10th December following, Captain Hampnd was
created a Baronet of Great Britain, as a ?eward for his very
distinguished services. From this period we find no mention
of him until the commencement of 1785, when he hoisted a
broad pendant on board the Irresistible of 74 guns, as Com-
modore and Commander-in-Chief in the river Meclway and
at the Nore. He subsequently sat as a member of the board
appointed to investigate and report on the expediency and
efficacy of certain plans which had been proposed for the
better security of the dock-yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth.

During the Spanish armament, and the altercation that af
terwards took place between Great Britain and Russia, Sir
Andrew commanded the Vanguard 74 ; and on that ship being

from the men of war, with a detachment of seamen ; and by the 9th
April, the army, consisting of 7,550 men, had constructed and opened bat-
teries against the town. On that day the squadron passed Sullivan's Island,
amidst a heavy fire ; and soon after a brigade of seamen and marines were
landed, and took possession of a post at Mount Pleasant, without opposi-
tion, the enemy flying into Charlestown on their approach. Thinking it
practicable to carry the fort on Sullivan's Island by storm, the Vice-Admi-
ral determined to make the attempt ; and in the night of the 4th May, 200
seamen and marines were landed. This detachment succeeded in passing
the fort before daylight, unobserved by the enemy, and took possession of
a redoubt on the east end of the island. The ships being drawn up to
support the attack, and every arrangement having been made for the as-
sault, a summons was sent into the fort, the garrison of which almost im-
mediately surrendered as prisoners of war. .HOT}
This success was followed by the surrender of Charlestown itself, about
the i 1th of the same month, when the Providence and Boston, American
frigates, Ranger of 20 guns, 1'Aventure, a French ship of 26 guns, a
polacre of 16, four armed gallies, and several other small vessels, fell into
the hands of the British, whose whole loss during the siege did not ex-
ceed 23 killed and 28 wounded.

GO RKTIRED CAPTAINS.

put out of commission, in the autumn of 1791, he was ap-
pointed to the Bedford, another third rate, in which he con-
tinued until the commencement of the French revolutionary
war, when he removed into the Duke of 90 guns. In the
course of the year 1793 he was nominated a Commissioner of
the Navy Board, of which he became Deputy Comptroller in
February 1794.

Sir Andrew S. Hamond's last appointment was in August,
1794, to be Comptroller of the Navy ; in which high and
laborious office he remained till early in 1806, when he re-
tired with a pension of 1500J. per annum.

Our officer married Anne, daughter and heiress of Henry
Graeme, Esq. of Hanwell Heath, co. Middlesex, and has is>-
sue, Graham Eden Hamond, a Post Captain, and C. B. ; and
Caroline, widow of the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Hood,
eldest son of Henry Viscount Hood, who served as Adjutant-
General to the second division of Lord Wellington's army,
and fell in the enterprise of driving the enemy from Aire^
March 2, 1814.

Residence. — Terrington, near Lynn, Norfolk.

LJ guana.*

SIR FRANCIS JOHN HARTWELL, BART.

A Director of Greenwich Hospital, and late Deputy Comptroller of the

Navy.

THIS officer is the third son of Captain Broderick Hartwell,
who died Lieutenant -Governor of Greenwich Hospital in
January, 1784 ; was born about the year 1757 ; and at the
commencement of the war with the colonies, commanded the
Rattlesnake cutter, in which he fought several smart actions
with the enemy's privateers, and captured a very valuable
French West Indiaman. On his promotion to the rank of
Commander he was appointed to the ^Etna bomb, stationed
at Antigua ; and on the death of Captain Broughton, he suc-
ceeded that officer in the command of the Sphynx frigate,
from whence he removed to the Brune. His post com-»
mission bears date December 19, 1779.

In the month of August, 17^9, when their late Majesties
reviewed a squadron under Commodore Goodall, at Ply-
mouth, Captain Hartwell commanded the Bellona of 74 guns,
and was presented to the King immediately after the sham-

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 61

fight which took place on that occasion *. He continued in
the Bellona during the Spanish and Russian armaments, but
was. paid off in the autumn of 1791. Towards the close of
the following year we find him fitting out the Thetis of 38
guns, at Deptford ; and at the commencement of the war
with revolutionary France, cruising with considerable success
in the Channel.

The Thetis was paid off in September, 1793 ; and about
the same period Captain Hartwell became a Commissioner of
the Victualling Board, in which office he remained until the
autumn of 1796, when he was appointed to superintend the
Dock-yard at Sheerness. In the course of 1799 he removed
to Chatham Yard ; and soon after obtained a seat at the Navy
Board, where he continued to sit, as a Commissioner and
Deputy Comptroller, till the summer of 1814. He has ever
since lived in retirement.

Commissioner Hartwell received the honor of knighthood
on the occasion of his acting as proxy for Lord Keith, at an
installation of Knights of the Bath. He subsequently had
a much greater mark of royal favor conferred upon him, be-
ing raised to the dignity of Baronet of Great Britain, Octo-
ber 5, 1805.

Our officer married, first, May 12, 1781, Anna Charlotte
Maria, eldest daughter of John Elphinstone, Esq. Captain
R. N., Lieutenant-General, Vice-Admiral, and Commander-
in-Chief of the Russian fleet ; and by that lady, who died

* On the 18th August, 1789, his Majesty King George III. went on
board the Southampton frigate in Plymouth Sound, and proceeded to re-
view a squadron of ten 2-deckers, then in the offing, under the command
of Commodore Goodall. On the approach of the royal standard the
squadron formed into two separate lines of battle, that representing the
enemy commanded by Captain Macbride. After manoeuvring for some
time upon different tacks, in order to bring each other to action, the en-
gagement began with a most furious cannonade between the two com-
manders, and soon became general. In about a quarter of an hour both
fleets wore to the westward, the enemy's line gave way, and were furi-
ously assailed by Commodore Goodall. Captain Macbride, however, suc-
ceeded in reforming his line, wore round upon the larboard tack, and re-
newed the. action with fresh vigor. This continued for some time, when
the enemy again gave way. Soon after both divisions formed in the order
of sailing, and the King returned to Plymouth, highly pleased with his ex-
cursion, under a royal salute from the ships and forts.

02 RKmiKD CAPTAINS.

June 6, 1809, had five sons and one daughter. His eldest
son, the Rev. Houlton Hartwell, Vicar of Loders and Brad-
pole, in Dorsetshire, and an active magistrate of that county,
died February 24, 1819, aged 36 years.

Sir Francis Hartwell married, second, in 1812, Miss Al-
dridge, sister of John Aldridge, of New Lodge, co. Sussex,
Esq.

Residence. — Laleham, Middlesex.

JOHN N. INGLEFIELD, ESQ.

THIS officer attained the rank of Lieutenant ahout the year
1768 ; and served as such in the Courageux and the Robust
74's, commanded by the brothers Captains Samuel and Alex-
ander Hood, both of whom were afterwards advanced to the
peerage. He was made a Post-Captain October II, 1780;
and soon after appointed to the command of the Barfleur, a
second rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel
Hood, whom he accompanied to the West Indies, with a re-
inforcement for the squadron in that quarter, under the orders
of Sir George B. Rodney.

On the 29th April, 1781, Sir Samuel Hood having been de-
tached with eighteen sail of the line to cruise off Martinique, fell
in and had a partial action with the French fleet under the Count
de Grasse, consisting of twenty-four ships of the line and two
of 50 guns. In this affair the Barfleur had 5 men killed. The to-
tal loss sustained by the British was 41 slain and 130 wounded.
Amongst the former were Captain Nott, of the Centaur, and
Mr. Plowden, his first Lieutenant, two brave and excellent
officers. The next day, the enemy's van and centre being at
some distance from their rear, Sir Samuel Hood, by a bold
manoeuvre, notwithstanding his inferiority, attempted to cut
them off; but having failed in this resolute enterprise, he was
obliged, from the bad condition of many of his ships, to bear
away for Antigua. On the 31st July following, he assumed
the chief command of the fleet, Sir George B. Rodney having
sailed for England.

In the ensuing month Captain Inglefield, who had been re-
moved into the Centaur on the death of her late commander,
accompanied Sir Samuel Hood to the coast of America, in pur-
suit of M. de Grasse. He returned to Barbadoes with the

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 63

same officer, after the surrender of Earl Cornwallis to the
combined armies of France and America*.

During the subsequent operations at the island of St.
Christopher., Captain Inglefield was several times sent with
flags of truce to the Marquis de Bouille and the Count de
Grasse. He was also employed in the hazardous service of
establishing signals between the fleet and the garrison of
Brimstone Hill, by means of personal communication with the
officer commanding there f.

The Centaur formed part of the red division of Sir George

* After the partial action off the Chesapeake, September 5, 1781,
which we have already noticed in our first volume, p. 133, the British
flee.t, commanded by the Rear- Admirals Graves, Hood, and Drake, re-
turned to Sandy Hook, and took on board 7000 troops under Sir Henry
Clinton, destined for the relief of Earl Cornwallis, who was closely in-
vested at York and Gloucester, by the French and rebel armies. On the
24th October the armament arrived off the Chesapeake, when the British
commanders had the mortification to find that his Lordship, owing to the
exhausted and sickly state of his army, and being without any hopes of
relief, had entered into a capitulation for the surrender of those important
posts on the 1 7th. By this unfortunate event 6000 British troops, and
1500 seamen, fell into the hands of the enemy.

t Sir Samuel Hood, after his return from America, remained in Carlisle
Bay, with his fleet moored in order of battle, in daily expectation of a visit
from the French, till January 14, 1782, when he received intelligence
that the Count de Grasse had relinquished his plan of attacking Barba-
does, and gone to St. Christopher's ; on his arrival at which island the
Marquis de Bouille was landed with 8000 troops, and the British garrison
consisting of only 600 men, under Brigadier-General Fraser, obliged to
retire into the fort at Brimstone Hill. The Rear-Admiral, notwithstanding
the superiority of the enemy, determined on a measure of unusual bold-
ness, for the preservation of that valuable island. Instead of waiting
their approach, he resolved to confound the enemy by an immediate at-
tack, and to engage them as they lay at their anchors. For this purpose
he immediately put to sea from Carlisle Bay, embarked General Prescott
and the few troops that could be spared from Antigua, and proceeded
without loss of time to attack the enemy in Basseterre Road.

At day-break on the 24th the signal was made to form the line of battle,
for the purpose of bearing down to the attack ; but the untoward accident
of the Alfred's running foul of the Nymph, arrested the prosecution of
this well-concerted design, and obliged the fleet to bring to whilst the for-
mer vessel repaired her damages. Towards the evening of the same day
the Count de Grasse quitted his anchorage and put to sea, that his ships
might have full room to act, and thus secure the advantages of their su-
periority in point of number.

64 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

15. Kndney's fleet in the glorious battle of April 12, 1782, the
particulars of which will be found in our first volume, p. 35>
et seq. In August following she sailed for England, in com-

At day-light on the 25th, the enemy's fleet was observed about three
leagues to leeward, formed in order of battle, and consisting of twenty-
nine sail of the line. Sir Samuel Hood, who had only twenty-two line-
of-battle ships, instantly perceived the great advantages to be derived from
this movement, and carried on every appearance of an immediate and de-
termined attack, which drove the enemy farther to leeward, whilst he
himself pushed for Basseterre, and anchored his fleet in line of battle
a-head, in Frigate Bay. The Count de Grasse, astonished at this excellent
manoeuvre, and apprehensive that all communication with the army might
be cut off, made a most furious attack upon the rear of the British fleet,
commanded by Commodore Affleck ; but that gallant officer made so
noble a defence, and was so ably supported by his seconds, the Hon. Wil-
liam Cornwallis in the Canada, and Lord Robert Manners in the Resolu-
tion, who kept up an incessant fire, covering the other ships of the divi-
sion while they brought up in their stations, particularly the Prudent,
whose wheel was shot away, and the rudder choked by a shot which had
lodged between it and the stem-post, that the enemy, finding they could not
make any impression on the resolute firmness of the British, bore up and
stood to sea.

The next morning, at 8 o'clock, the French fleet stood in, as if deter-
mined to force the British line, which they attacked with great violenc e
from van to rear, without making the least visible impression on it ; they
then wore and stood to sea. Sir Samuel Hood, having observed that the
rear of his fleet was too much exposed, took this opportunity to change
the position thereof, and directed the Alfred, Canada, Prudent, Resolution,
Belliqueux, Centaur, and Monarch, to extend themselves in a line towards
the town of Basseterre, forming an obtuse angle, by which means no one
part of the fleet could suffer a partial attack. The Count de Grasse, not
yet discouraged, renewed the engagement in the afternoon, directing his
attack principally against the centre and rear divisions ; he was again re-
pulsed, and suffered more material damage than in the preceding battle.
The Ville de Paris, bearing de Grasse's flag, was upon the heel all the next
day, covering her shot-holes; and according to information which Sir
Samuel Hood subsequently received from the shore, upwards of 1,000
wounded Frenchmen were sent to St. Eustatius. The loss sustained by
the British, in all the attacks, amounted to 72 killed, and 244 wounded.

On the 28th, part of the 13th regiment, and the whole of the 28th and
69th, were landed under cover of four frigates. After a smart skirmish with
a detachment of French troops, which were beaten, and obliged to retreat
with great loss into Basseterre, General Prescott took post upon a com-
manding hill. The following morning, the Marquis de Bouille arrived
with 4,000 troops from Sandy Point ; but finding the British General's po-
sition to be too strong to venture an attack, he proceeded to the siege of

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 65

pnny with the prizes taken on that memorable occasion, and
a large fleet of merchantmen, the whole under the orders of
Rear- Admiral Graves. Nothing material occurred until the
night of the 22d, when 1'Hector, a French 74, being badly
manned and a heavy sailer, dropped a-stern and parted com-
pany. On the 8th September it blew a strong gale, and the
leaks of the Caton, another of the prizes, and the Pallas fri-
gate, had so much increased, that the Rear-Admiral was
under the necessity of ordering them to bear away for Halifax.
On the Kith the fleet encountered a heavy gale from the
E. S, E. which continued to blow with unabating fury till
three o'clock next morning, when on a sudden it shifted to
the N. N. W., and soon increased to a hurricane. As the day
broke, it discovered an indescribable scene of horror and dis-

Brimstone Hill. As no object could be gained by General Prescott re-
maining oa shore, he re-embarked the same evening.

Soon after the arrival of the fleet, Captain Inglefield of the Centaur,
was sent to Brigadier-General Fraser with a message of importance, and
returned in safety, after establishing signals between the fort and the
squadron. The vigilance of the enemy cut off all further communication.
Many attempts were afterwards made to throw succours into the garrison,
all of which proved ineffectual ; and several officers sent with messages to
the Brigadier, were detected and taken prisoners.

The enemy prosecuted the siege with unabating vigour till the 13th
Feb., when a practicable breach was made in the works, and Brigadier-
General Fraser and the Governor, having given up all hope of succour,
reluctantly consented to capitulate.

On the morning of the 14th, the French fleet, reinforced by five ships
of the line, anchored off Nevis ; and it being no longer necessary for the
British to continue in its present situation, which was useless and dan-
gerous, not only from the vast superiority of the enemy's fleet, but that
they were preparing to erect gun and mortar-batteries on a hill com-
manding the anchorage, Sir Samuel Hood issued orders to the respective
Captains to slip or cut their cables without signal, at 1 1 P. M., the stern-
most and leewardmost ships first, and so on in succession, then to proceed
under an easy sail until directed otherwise by signal. That this order
might be punctually obeyed, the Captains were directed to set their
watches by Sir Samuel's time-piece . This was performed with the utmost
order and regularity, without being molested or pursued by the French
fleet ; which was lying within five miles, and must have witnessed the ma-
noeuvre. The British fleet anchored at Antigua on the 19th, and a few days
after was joined by Sir George B. Rodney, with a reinforcement from,
England.

VOL. n. r

66 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

tress ; some of the ships of war had lost their masts, and were
otherwise much disabled ; many of the convoy had not only
suffered similar disasters, but had actually foundered ; and the
sea was covered with wrecks. Numbers of miserable wretches
of both sexes were seen, either lashed or clinging to them :
and what rendered their dreadful situation still more piteous,
was the impossibility of giving them the smallest assistance :
the storm continued to rage, and the sea so rough and agi-
tated, that no boats could be put out to their relief. A few
indeed were fortunate enough to be saved by ropes thrown
from the ships as they approached them. When the squall
came on, the Ramillies 74 had her main-sail set, and in this
situation was taken aback. Before the clue-garnets could be
manned the main-mast went over the side, carrying with it
the mizen-mast, fore-top-mast, and fore-yard. The tiller
broke in the rudder head ; and in a short time, from the
chain pumps being choaked, the water in the hold had in-
creased to six feet. In the course of the day several of the
guns and heavy stores were thrown overboard, to ease the
ship ; but these efforts proved ineffectual : the pumps could
not be cleared, and by the 21st the leak had gained so consi-
derably that Rear-Admiral Graves began to despair of saving
her. Fortunately the gale abated sufficiently to allow the few
merchantmen still in company to take out the crew ; which
being effected by four o'clock in the afternoon, she was set
on fire and soon after blew up.

The melancholy fate, of the Centaur was still more deplo-
rable. The squall had laid her so much on her beam ends,
that the water burst through from the hold between decks ;
she lay motionless, and seemed irrecoverably overset. Her
masts falling overboard, she in some degree righted, with the
loss of her rudder, and such extreme violence as caused un-
speakable mischief and confusion. The guns broke loose,
the shot were thrown out of the lockers, and the water that
came from the hold swept away every thing between decks,
as effectually as the waves had from the upper. The officers,
when the ship overset, ran up from their beds naked ; nei-
ther could they get at a single article of clothes to put on in
the morning, nor receive any assistance from those who
were upon deck, they themselves having no other but what
they had on.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 67

The unshaken fortitude of the crew, under every difficulty,
and with scarcely the possibility of escape remaining, — while
it heightens the merit of the sufferers, only serves to render
their fate the more grievous. By their unwearied exertions,
the ship was kept afloat until the 23d ; but on the morning
of that day, all their efforts appeared fruitless. The water in
the hold had blown up the orlop-deck, the ship was filling
fast, and going gradually down. Every countenance was
painted with horror and despair ; not a shadow of hope now
remained : the people could be no longer prevailed on to bail,
and the vessel was left to her fate. Some of the bravest
seamen, who had hitherto persevered in their sufferings and
labour, without a murmur or any expression of fear, geeing
that all was over, and being suddenly struck with a melan-
choly and tender recollection of their country, and of every
thing that was most dear to them, burst openly into tears,
and wept like children : others, appearing perfectly resigned
to their fate, went to their hammocks, and requested their
messmates to lash them in : numbers were lashing them-
selves to gratings and email rafts. Amidst this scene of mi-
sery and distress, the idea most prevalent among the men
was that of equipping themselves in their best and cleanest
clothes. Although rafts were made, and the boats put into
the water, the bulk of the officers and men, convinced of the
impossibility of being saved, preferred resigning themselves
quietly to their fate, rather than take the chance of prolong-
ing their wretched existence for a few hours. At 5 o'clock
in the evening, Captain Inglefield, who had not yet formed
any determination for himself, perceiving a few of the people
getting into the pinnace, and others preparing to follow them,
beckoned to Mr. Renny, the Master, who was the only offi-
cer on deck, and instantly jumped into the boat, followed by
that gentleman *. Tb.e sea ran so high, it was with much
difficulty they could get her clear of the ship ; numbers of
the people who were on the gangway, endeavouring to follow
their example, fell into the sea and were drowned. Mr. Ro-
bert Baylis, a Midshipman, only, 15 years of age, jumped

* Mr. Renny was afterwards made a Lieutenant, and appointed to the
command of a cutter, which foundered on her passage to Gibraltar with
despatches, and all on board perished.

F 2

68 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

overboard, and had the good fortune to reach the boat,
though it was with some difficulty Captain Inglefield could
prevail on his companions to take him in *. The whole
number now in the boat was twelve, adrift in the middle of
the Atlantic Ocean, a dark and stormy night approaching,
without either compass, quadrant, or sail. Their provisions
consisted of a bag of bread, a small ham, a single piece of
pork, a few French cordials, and two quart bottles of water.
A blanket which had been thrown into the boat, they bent to
one of the stretchers, and used as a sail. Providentially, the
next morning the weather proved more moderate, and the
wind continuing to blow from the N. W. buoyed them up
with the hope of being able to reach the Azores, which, at the
time they quitted the Centaur, were about 260 leagues to the
S. E. On the fifth morning it was discovered that the salt water
had spoiled the greater part of their bread ; this reduced them
to the necessity of living upon the miserable pittance of two
biscuits for the twenty-four hours, which were divided equally
between the whole. The neck of a bottle with the cork in it,
was the measure of water allotted to support each individual
for the same period. For the want of this necessary article
they must shortly have perished, had not a pair of sheets
been found in the boat ; rain coming on, they were enabled,
by alternately spreading and wringing them, to catch and
save a few quarts of water ; but not by any means a suffi-
ciency to allay their thirst. Captain Inglefield, to divert the
attention of the people from their situation and distress, in-
duced them during the heavy and pensive hours of the night,
to amuse each other by relating a story, or singing a song, in
turn.

On the 16th day after their departure from the ship, the
last ration of bread and water was distributed, and all hope
vanished. The Almighty, however, who had conducted these
unfortunate people through so many perils, still favored them
with his divine protection ; and on the same day, to their in-
expressible joy, land was discovered, for which they instantly
steered, and before night arrived safely in the harbour of

• Mr. Baylis died a Lieutenant of the Mercury frigate, at St. John'i,
Newfoundland, Sept. 1.., 1799.

RETIRED CAPfAINS. 69

jFayal, where they met with every humane attention, and
from whence they soon after proceeded to England *.

On the 25th Jan. 1783, Captain Inglefield and the other
survivors of the Centaur, were tried by a court-martial at
Portsmouth, for the loss of that vessel, and fully acquitted of
all blame on account thereof f.

Immediately after his trial, Captain Inglefield was appointed
to the Scipio of 64 guns, stationed as a guard-ship in the
river Medway. His next appointment was in the autumn
of 1788, to the Adventure of 44 guns ; in which ship he went
to the coast of Africa, and returned from thence in Aug. 1789.
He afterwards made three successive voyages to the same
station, in the Medusa of 50 guns.

The Medusa, coming up Channel in Sept. 1792, passed the
frigate in which our late venerable monarch was making his
usual marine excursion from Weymouth. After saluting the
royal standard, Captain Inglefield followed her to the anchor-

* Thomas Matthews, a quarter-master, died in the boat the day before
land was discovered. Those who escaped from the ill-fated Centaur, in
addition to Captain Inglefield, the Master, and Midshipman mentioned
above, were Mr. James Clark, Surgeon's Mate ; Timothy Sullivan, the
Captain's coxswain ; John Gregory, a Quarter-Master; and five seamen.

t The following is a list of the ships of war which sailed from Jamaica
under the orders of Rear- Admiral Graves ; and will show how they were
'disposed of :

c Rear- Admiral T. Graves,-) Abandoned after

Ramillies .... 74 .... i /-, > . .

< Captain b. Monarty. / being set on fire.

* Ville de Paris 110 A. Wilkinson. -» Foundered, and

* Glorieux — 74 Hon. T.Cadogan. /their crews perished.

Canada 74 Hon. W. Cornwallis. Arrived in Eng-
land, with the loss of hermizen-maat.

Centaur .... 74 „ J. N. Inglefield. Foundered, only 1 1

of her crew preserved.

* Hector 74 J. Bouchier. Foundered, crew saved

by a letter of marque.

f Jason 64 John Aylmer. Arrived in England.

t Caton 64 T. Fisher. Arrived at Halifax.

* Ardent 64 R. Lucas. Returned to Jamaica.

Pallas 36 C. Parker. Went to Halifax very leaky,

and afterwards lost on one of the Wes-
tern Islands ; crew saved.

« Taken by Sir George B. Rodney, April 12, 1782.
f Taken by Sir Samuel Hood, in the Mona Passage, April 19, 1782.

70 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

age, and on the following morning was received by the King
with marked distinction and approbation, and honored with
a long conference on the esplanade.

On the Medusa's arrival at Chatham, she was ordered to
be put out of commission ; and Captain Inglefield soon after
obtained the command of 1'Aigle frigate, in which ship we
find him serving at the reduction of Corsica, under the orders
of Lord Hood, by whom he was appointed, conjointly with
Vice- Admiral Goodall, Captain James Young, and his Lord-
ship's Secretary, Mr. M* Arthur, to draw up the articles of
the capitulation, by which Bastia was surrendered to the
British arms.

In the spring of 1/94, our officer was appointed to succeed
the late Sir Hyde Parker, as Captain of the Mediterranean
fleet ; and towards the close of the same year, he returned
to England with Lord Hood, in the Victory of 100 guns.
From this period until the summer of 1811, he appears to
have been employed as a resident Commissioner of the Navy,
successively, at Corsica, Malta, Gibraltar, and Halifax. Pre-
ferring the retention of his civil appointment to a flag, he was
placed on the retired list of Post-Captains in Feb. 1799.

Captain Inglefield is the reputed author of " A View of the
Naval Force of Great Britain," published in 1791. His son,
Samuel Hood Inglefield, obtained post rank in 1807 ', and
his daughter is the lady of that excellent officer, Vice-Ad-
miral Sir Benjamin Hallowell, K. C. B.

Agent.— William Marsh, Esq.

WILLIAM CARLYON, ESQ.

THIS officer's post commission bears date May 9, 1781.
He resides at Tregrehan, near St. Austle, Cornwall.

SIR RUPERT GEORGE, BART.

Late Chairman of the Transport Board.

THIS officer, the third son of the late Dennis George, of

Clophook, in Ireland, Esq. and a brother of the late Baron

George, of the Irish Court of Exchequer, was born at Dublin

.January 16, 1749; and during the colonial war commanded

the Vulture sloop of war on the American station.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 71

On the ICth July, 1781, the Vulture, in company with
the Charles town of 28 guns, and Allegiance sloop, fell in
with and was attacked by two large French frigates, 1'Astree
of 40 guns, and 1'Hermione of 36, which, after a severe ac-
tion, they succeeded in beating off, thereby preserving a fleet
of merchantmen which they were convoying to Spanish River.
The Charlestown had 8 men slain and 14 wounded; amongst
the former was her commander, Captain Evans, an active and
gallant officer. The Vulture had 1 man killed and 2
wounded.

Captain George was advanced to post rank in the Amphi-
trite frigate, November 29, 1781 ; and subsequently com-
manded the Charlestown, on the coast of America. About
the period, of the Spanish armament he was appointed to the
Tbisbe of 28 guns, and afterwards to the Hussar, a ship of
similar force, in which he continued until the autumn of 1795,
when he was nominated a Commissioner of the then recently
established Transport Board, over which he presided for
some years, previous to its dissolution at the conclusion of the
late war.

In 1 803 Commissioner George received the honor of knight-
hood on the occasion of his acting as proxy for a K. B. at an
installation of the Knights of that order. His patent of Ba-
ronetcy is dated September 18, 1809. He married, June 30th,
1782, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Cochren, of Halifax,
Esq. and by that lady had a numerous family.

Sir Rupert George died at Willesden House, co. Middle-
sex, January 25, 1823. His widow, if still alive, enjoys a
pension of 300/. per annum during the royal pleasure.

HON. MATTHEW FORTESCUE.

THE Fortescues are an ancient Devonshire family. Sir
Henry Fortescue was Lord Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas in Ireland, in 1246 ; and his second son was the cele-
brated Sir John Fortescue, Chief Justice of England in 1442,
afterwards Lord Chancellor, and the author of the famous
" Treatise de Laudibus Legum Angliee."

Captain Fortescue is the second son of Matthew, second
Earl of Fortescue, by Anne, second daughter of John Camp-
bell, of Cawdor, in Scotland, and Stackpole- court, co. Pern-

^2 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

broke, Esq. He was born April 12, 1754; obtained post
rank May 24, 1782; and commanded the Daphne, a 20-gun
ship, at the close of the American war. He married, in
June 1795, Henrietta, only daughter of Sir Richard Hoare,
Bart., and widow of Sir Thomas Acland, Bart. He has a
son in the Coldstream regiment of foot guards. His brother
is the present Earl of Fortescue.
Bankers. — Hoare and Co.

RALPH MILBANKE, ESQ.

THIS officer was a descendant from Ralph Milbanke, cup-
bearer to Mary, Queen of Scots, whose great-grandson was^
created a Baronet of Great Britain Aug. 7> 1661.

Captain Milbanke obtained post rank July 20, 1782, and
died at Blackwell, near Darlington, co. Durham,Nov. 21, 1823,
in his 75th year. He was a man whose amiable disposition
endeared him to the circle of friends in which he moved.

RICHARD CREYKE, ESQ.

Governor of the Royal Naval Hospital, and Resident Commissioner of tht

Victualling, at Plymouth.

IN 1764, we find this officer accompanying the late Hon.
John Byron on a voyage round the world*. During the
American war, he commanded the Otter of 14 guns ; was
very actively employed under the orders of Commodore Sir
George Collier, and assisted at the capture and destruction
of the towns of Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Gosport, and
others of less note in the vicinity of Elizabeth River ; the
strong posts of Stoney Point, Fort la Fayette, and Varplanks,
up the North River ; and the towns of Newhaven, Fairfield,
Norwalk, and Greenfield, on the Connecticut shore ; together
with an immense quantity of shipping, merchandise, provi-
sions, and riaval and military stores. He also accompanied
Sir George Collier to the Penobscot river, where nineteen
sail of American armed vessels, and upwards of twenty trans-
ports, were either taken or destroyed, in Aug. 1779 f. His
post commission bears date Dec. 17, 1782 ; and his appoint-

* See note at p. 1 .
t See Nar. Cliren. Vol. 32, p. 265, et se^

RETIRED CAPTAIMS.

fnent to be Governor of Plymouth Hospital, July 15, 1/95 *.
He has a son in holy orders, married to Sarah, daughter
of the late Colonel Hotham, of York.

JOHN GIBSON, ESQ.

WAS made a Lieutenant Dec. 10, 1760 ; posted Dec! 23,
1782 ; and commanded the Porcupine frigate, employed in
the defence of Gibraltar, at the close of the American war.

Residence. — Dulverton, Devonshire.

WILLIAM FULKE GREVILLE, ESQ.

commission dated January 16, 1783.
Bankers. — Coutts and Co.

SAMUEL ARDEN, ESQ.

Senior Captain of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, and a Director of the

Chest.

THIS officer lost his right arm when serving as a Lieutenant
on board the Atalante sloop of war, in an action with a large
American1 frigate on the banks of Newfoundland, May 28,
1781. His conduct on this occasion was of the most heroic
description. The instant his mutilated limb was dressed, he
resumed his station upon deck, where he continued anima-
ting the crew till the vessel struckf. He was made a Post-Cap-
tain Jan. 21, 1783 ; and appointed to Greenwich Hospital in
1796.

MATTHEW SMITH, ESQ.

Fellow of the Royal Society.

THIS officer is a son of the late Matthew Smith, Esq. Major
of the Tower of London, Colonel of the 2d regiment of Tower

* For the better regulation of the Royal Naval Hospitals, in the year
J795, Governors were appointed to each. To those at Has lar and Ply-
mouth, a Post-Captain, with a salary of 5(K)/., and 751. for house, coals,
and candles ; three Lieutenants under them, whose salaries were fixed at
130/. per annum. By a recent regulation, the office of Governor has
merged in that of a Resident Commissioner of the Victualling, in whom
are united the superintendance of the victualling department of the nary,
and the control of the hospital.

t See Vol. I. p. 173.

74 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

Hamlets' militia, F. R. S. and F. S. A. who died Feb. 17,
1812, at the advanced age of 73 years.

He was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain, April 18,
1783, and during the Dutch and Spanish armaments, com-
manded the Carysfort of 28 guns. At the commencement of
the French war, in 1793, he was appointed to the Diomede, a
50-gun ship, and ordered to the East Indies.

On the 22d Oct. 1794, the Diomede, being off the Mauri-
tius, in company with the Centurion, a ship of similar force,
fell in with a French squadron consisting of two frigates, one
corvette, and a brig. After a smart action the enemy re-
treated into Port Louis, with the loss of 38 men killed and 87
wounded. The Diomede' s loss we have not been able to as-
certain ; but the Centurion, which ship appears to have borne
the brunt of the action, had 27 men killed and wounded.

On the 2d Aug. in the following year, the Diomede, whilst
turning into Back Bay, near Trincomalee, with a transport
brig in tow, struck on a sunken rock which was supposed to
be about half a mile further to the northward than its true si-
tuation, and after getting off sunk with all her stores on board
about three miles to the northward of Flag-Staff Point. The
Diomede, at the time this accident occurred, formed part of
the squadron under Commodore Rainier, employed in the re-
duction of Trincomalee, which surrendered by capitulation on
the 26th of the same month. During the latter part of the
siege, Captain Smith commanded a detachment of 300 sea-
men and marines, landed to co-operate with the army, under
Colonel J. Stuart *.

* In the month of May 1795, the first official accounts reached India of
the war between Great Britain and Holland, a report of which had some
time before caused preparations to be made for that event. On the 1st of
Aug. a squadron consisting of the Suffolk 74, bearing the broad pendant of
Commodore Rainier, Centurion and Diomede 50's, Heroine frigate, and se-
veral transports, having on board about 3000 troops, commanded by Colonel
Stuart, anchored in Back Bay, Ceylon, and the commandant of Trinco-
malee was immediately summoned to surrender. On the 3d the troops
were disembarked without opposition ; but owing to the extraordinary high
surf and the violence of the wind, it took ten days to land the whole of the
stores and provisions. The carriage of these and of the artillery to the
camp, a distance of about three miles, over a heavy sand, was cheerfully
executed by the seamen. On the 23d, the batteries having been completed,
were opened on the lower fort with such effeet, that by the 26tb, a practi-

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 75

The report made by Captain Osborne of the Centurion, of
the action with the French squadron, in the preceding year, not
being satisfactory to Captain Smith, he applied to that offi-
cer for an explanation. Captain Osborne, after more dis-
tinctly expressing his approbation of Captain Smith's conduct
than he had done in his public letter, thought fit to demand
a court-martial for enquiring into the conduct of the two ships,
with a view of justifying his letter on service. The court sen-
tenced Captain Smith to be dismissed the service ; but on his
return to England in 1/98, he appealed against their verdict ;
and his memorial being referred to the Crown lawyers and the
Admiralty counsel, they reported their opinion that the sen-
tence was unwarrantable, and not to be supported. Captain
Smith was consequently restored to his rank in the navy, but
never afterwards called into service.

CHARLES CUNNINGHAM, ESQ.

Commissioner of His Majesty's Dock-Yard at Chatham.

THIS officer was born in 1755, and entered the royal navy
as a Midshipman on board the ^Eolus frigate in 1775 ', pre-
vious to which he had, (owing to the want of employment
for young men in the King's service,) made several mercan-
tile voyages with a friend in America, from whence he re-
turned to England at the commencement of the colonial war.

Early in 1776, the ^Eolus sailed for the West Indies, on which
station Mr. Cunningham joined the Bristol of 50 guns, bear-
ing the flag of Vice- Admiral Sir Peter Parker, by whom he

cable breach was made. A summons was then sent to the garrison ; but
the Governor demanding terms which were inadmissible, and refusing to
accept those sent in return, hostilities recommenced. Three hundred sea-
men and marines were also landed, under the command of Captain Smith,
for the purpose of assisting to storm the fort, had the enemy determined to
hold out. In a short time, however, a white flag was displayed on the
ramparts, and the Dutch commandant surrendered at discretion, The loss
sustained by the British in obtaining possession of this post amounted to
16 men killed and 60 wounded ; 1 of the former and 6 of the latter were
sailors. The fort of Oostenburg, situated on an almost perpendicular
hill, and garrisoned by 400 Europeans, was next summoned, and the enemy
seemed resolved to defend it ; but observing their invaders making prepa-
rations for a bombardment, and about to cut off their water with which
they were supplied by pipes from an opposite hill, they at length agreed to
surrender. Several other posts and factories in Ceylon -soon after shared
the same fate.

76 Klh-JRED CAPTAINS.

was made an acting Lieutenant, and appointed to the Port
Royal sloop of war June 12, 1779. At the latter end of the
same year, we find him serving as first Lieutenant of the
Hinchinbroke, commanded by the late Lord Nelson, from
which ship he removed into the Pallas frigate Jan. 14, 1780.

The Pallas being ordered to England in July 1782, Mr.
Cunningham was then appointed second Lieutenant of the
Ajax 74. On the 4th Sept. following, he obtained the com-
mand of the Admiral Harrington, a brig of 14 guns j and was
soon after sent by Sir Joshua Rowley, with the Racehorse
schooner under his orders, to stop the American salt trade,
and prevent any communication between the people of the
United States and those of Turk's Island, lying to the north-
ward of St. Domingo. During his temporary absence, for the
purpose of obtaining supplies at Jamaica, the French effected
a landing and took possession of the island ; which circum-
stance being communicated to Captain Nelson, who had ar-
rived off there with a small squadron the day after Lieutenant
Cunningham's return to his station, an attempt was made to
dislodge them on the following morning, by landing a detach-
ment of seamen and marines under Captain C. Dixon, of the
Drake brig, whilst that vessel and the Admiral Harrington at-
tacked a battery of three 24-pounders ; but finding the enemy
entrenched, and far superior in numbers, the enterprise was
abandoned, and the party re-embarked. In this affair the
brigs had several men wounded *.

The Admiral Harrington was paid off at Jamaica, May 11,
1783 ; and, we believe, Lieutenant Cunningham was subse-
quently appointed to the Tremendous of 74 guns. In 1788,
he joined the Crown 64, bearing the broad pendant of Com-
modore Cornwallis, by whom he was made a Commander
into the Ariel sloop of war on the East India station in 1790.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
Captain Cunningham, then commanding the Speedy of 14
guns, sailed from England with despatches for the Mediter-
ranean ; and on the arrival of the fleet under Lord Hood at
Gibraltar, he was ordered to remain there with two small ves-
sels under his orders, for the purpose of preparing the hos-
pital, fitting up ships for the reception of prisoners, forming

Mr. Cunningham's commission as a Lieutenant was not confirmed
till his appointment to the Admiral Barrington.

RETIRED CAPTAI1W. 77

a well, and forwarding any intelligence that might arrive, to
his Lordship.

In June 1793, the Speedy conveyed M. Calonne, ex-Mi-
nister of France, from Gibraltar to Naples, on a political visit ;
and after performing that service joined Lord Hood at Toulon.
She was subsequently employed in keeping up a communica-
tion between the Admiral and our Envoy at Genoa, the ten-
ders hitherto sent on that service having been forcibly detained
in that port, notwithstanding its neutrality, by the French
vessels lying there.

On the 5th Oct. in the same year, the Speedy accompanied
the Bedford and Captain, 74's, into the harbour of Genoa, and
assisted in seizing the Modeste frigate, and two armed tartans.
From thence she proceeded in company with the Captain to
Port Especia, in quest of another French frigate, the Impe-
rieuse of 40 guns, which on the approach of the British was
scuttled and abandoned by her crew. To this fine ship, the
name of which on being weighed and taken into our service,
was changed to the Unite, Captain Cunningham was ap-
pointed by a post commission, dated on the day of her cap-
ture *, and afterwards confirmed by the Admiralty.

In April 1794, Captain Cunningham exchanged ships with
Captain Wolseley of the Lowestoffe, in which frigate he as-
sisted at the reduction of Calvi f, from whence he was sent
home overland with Lord Hood's despatches announcing the
total subjugation of Corsica, from which we make the fol-
lowing extract :

" Captain Cunningham, who has cruised with infinite diligence, zeal,
and perseverance, under many difficulties, for three months past, off Calvi,
is charged with my despatches, and is competent to give any information
their lordships may wish to have. I beg to recommend him as an officer
of great merit, and highly deserving any favor that can be shewn him."

Captain Cunningham's journey across the continent appears
to have been a very rapid one, he having left Calvi on the
llth Aug., and notwithstanding his being obliged to make a
circuitous route to avoid the French army, and a detention of
three or four days at Helvoetsluys, occasioned by a heavy gale
of wind, arrived in London on the 1st of the ensuing month.

His next appointment was in April, 1796, to the Clyde of
46 guns (rated at 38) and 261 men. During the remainder
of that year we find him actively employed in the North Sea,
* Oct. 12, 1793. f See Vol. I. p. 252.

78 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

and on the coast of France, having occasionally a small squa-
dron of frigates under his orders.

In May, 1797? when a most dangerous mutiny broke out
among the crews of the ships composing the North Sea fleet,
the Clyde happened to be refitting at the Little Nore, not-
withstanding which, and the circumstance of his being no-
minally under the influence of the mutineers, he had the good
fortune never to be entirely dispossessed of his command, or
to receive the least insult from his men, but on the contrary,
at length succeeded by his conduct in detaching them from
the contagion, which he effected in the following manner : —

On the 29th May, seventeen days after the first symptoms
of mutiny had appeared on board the Sandwich and other
ships at the Great Nore, Captain Cunningham gave orders
that the signal from Parker, the rebel chief, for all delegates
to repair to him, should not be answered by the Clyde, as was
done on board the other ships. Her fore-sail being unbent at
the time, and it being known that she was unprovided with a
pilot, the rest of the fleet did not suspect that this was the
prelude to her secession from their cause. At 9 P. M., Captain
Cunningham assembled his crew, and made known to them his
intention of working the ship into Sheerness harbour in the
course of that night j intimating likewise that the St. Fiorenzo
frigate would make her escape at the same tune. Soon after
mid-night the cables were slipped, and by sun-rise on the
morning of the 30th, the Clyde was safely anchored in the
harbour, thus giving the first blow to a most diabolical con-
spiracy, which, while it lasted, was terrifying to the whole
country, and, but for the promptitude and activity displayed
by Captain Cunningham, his officers, and loyal crew, might
have spread into a serious extent of mischief to the state *.

On the return of the other ships to their duty, Captain
Cunningham was ordered to Elsincur, for the purpose of con-
voying home a rich fleet of merchantmen, which, owing to
the late unhappy events, had been detained in the Sound.

* Captains Cunningham and Neale were the only officers of their rank
who remained on board, and had any influence over their ships' companies.
See Vol. I. p. 434. The notorious Parker once went on board the Clyde,
and endeavoured to prevail on her crew to take her up against Tilbury
fort ; but this Captain Cunningham had the address to prevent.

Errata, p. 79, line 10 from the bottom, for shots read shut ; p. 80, line
14 from the top, for at one of the theatres read at the ff^ey mouth theatre.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 79

Previous to his sailing he received the following letter of
thanks from the merchants, &c., &c., of London : —

" London Marine Society's Office, June 8, 1779-

" Sir. — I have the honour to convey the unanimous thanks of a very
numerous and respectable meeting of merchants, ship-ewners, insurers,
and others, held on the Royal Exchange of London, to you, as commander,
and to the officers and crew of H. M. S. the Clyde, for their spirited con-
duct in carrying your ship through the mutinous fleet.

" I beg you will accept of these thanks, and that you will also convey
the same in such manner as may be most acceptable.

" It is with great satisfaction that, as chairman of so respectable a meet-
ing, I have been directed to transmit the above resolution. I' have the
honour to be, &c. &c. &c.

(Signed) " HUGH INGLIS, Chairman.
" To Captain Cunning-ham,

ff. M. S. Clyde, Sheerness."

During the ensuing season, Captain Cunningham had the
honor of being placed in attendance upon his late Majesty at
Weymouth, from whence he was sent to join the Channel
fleet j but with the exception of his being for a length of
time employed in the fatiguing duty of watching Brest har-
bour, we find nothing particularly worthy of record until
Aug. 20, 1799j on which day, being off the Cordovan light-
house, our officer discovered two sail in the S. W., to which
he immediately gave chase, and soon perceived that they
were standing towards him, which they continued to do
till the Clyde had approached within two miles of them,
when they bore up and made sail, going large on different
tacks. Captain Cunningham pursued the largest, and soon
brought her to close action, which was maintained on both
sides with great spirit for nearly two hours ; when the enemy's
ship being totally unmanageable, with several shots between
wind and water, was obliged to strike, and proved to be La
Vestale of 36 guns and 235 men, of whom 10 were killed
and 22 wounded. Her consort, the Sagesse, of 28 guns and
175 men, availing herself of the vicinity of the Garonne, and
the start she had obtained of the Clyde, succeeded in effect-
ing her escape. The British frigate had only 2 men slain and
3 wounded.

The following is a copy of Lord Keith's letter to the Ad-
miralty on this occasion, but which was not published, in con-

80 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

sequence of Captain Cunningham's duplicate account of the
action having reached the Board before that forwarded by
his Lordship : —

" Queen Charlotte, Torbay, Aug. 29, 1799.

" Sir. — I have the honor to enclose for their Lordships' information, a
letter from Captain Cunningham, of H. M. S. Clyde, containing an ac-
count-of one of the most brilliant transactions which have occurred during
the course of the war ; he having with great gallantry pursued two French
frigates ; one of which he has captured, and driven the other into port. I
have the honor to be, &c. &c. &c.

(Signed) " KEITH.

" To Evan Nepean, Esq."

His late Majesty was at one of the theatres when an ac-
count of the above event was brought to him. He immedi-
ately stood up in his box, and commanded the news to be
communicated to the audience; when " Rule Britannia" was
loudly called for from every part of the house, and performed
with reiterated applause.

During the summer of 1800, the Clyde was employed con-
veying a Mr. Serres along the French and Spanish coasts, to
take drawings of all the headlands, harbours, &c. between
Brest and Corunna. That service being performed, she again
joined the Channel fleet, then under the orders of Earl St.
Vincent.

In May, 1801, Captain Cunningham received secret orders
from the Admiralty to assume the command of a strong
squadron of frigates, sloops, gun-brigs, cutters, &c. stationed
from Havre de Grace to the Isle of Bas, for the protection of
Guernsey, Jersey, and the adjacent islands, which were at
that time threatened with invasion.

Shortly after this appointment, the Jason frigate, forming part
of his squadron, was wrecked off St. Maloes ; upon learning
whichjCaptain Cunningham sent in a flag of truce, and succeeded
in obtaining the governor's permission for her commander, the
Hon. I. Murray, his officers and crew, to be exchanged; which
was granted on condition that they should be sent to Portsmouth
in French cartels. Finding that the enemy were preparing
to raise the Jason, he directed Lieutenant Mounsey to pro-
ceed with the boats of the squadron and attempt her destruc-
tion by fire ; which was effectually performed in the presence

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 81

of two large frigates, a corvette, and several gun-boats, ap-
parently ready for sea. Upon his return to port, Captain
Cunningham had the satisfaction of receiving the approbation
of the Admiralty for his judicious conduct. Peace soon after
taking place, he paid off the Clyde at the Great Nore, June
24, 1 802, after commanding her with great credit and good
fortune for a period of six years and two months *.

In May 1803, hostilities having re-commenced, Captain
Cunningham commissioned the Prince of Orange, a third
rate, and soon after assumed the command of a squadron sent
to watch the Dutch fleet in the Texel, on which service
he continued until relieved by Sir W. Sidney Smith, in the
Antelope. He was subsequently appointed to the Leopard
of 50 guns, intended for a particular service; but we believe
he did not go to sea in that ship.

The Hon. Captain Rodney having resigned his seat as a
Commissioner of the Victualling Board, in Sept. 1803, our
officer, without any solicitation on his part, was appointed
thereto by the Earl of St. Vincent, at whose recommendation
he was removed, in 1806, to be Resident Commissioner of his
Majesty's Dock-yards at Deptford and Woolwich. Previous
to this latter appointment, he was sent to Falmouth for the
purpose of forming a watering-place for the shipping at that
port. He remained on the spot until the present reservoir at
Milor was excavated and completed.

The establishments at Deptford and Woolwich having been
reduced about April, 1823, Commissioner Cunningham was
at that period appointed to the superintendance of Chatham
Dock-yard.

He has been twice married ; 1st, to the daughter of a cler-
gyman in Norfolk, where he possesses some paternal property ;
and, 2d, to a daughter of Commissioner Charles Probyf.

* Among the numerous privateers captured by Captain Cunningham,
was la Dorade of 12 guns, pierced for 18, and 93 men. This vessel, after
taking out the prisoners, was entrusted to the care of the Master, who, as
is supposed, being emulous to outsail the Clyde, carried too great a press
of sail, by which she was upset, and all on board, with the exception of
four men, perished. The unhappy sufferers, including the Master, were
24 in number.

t Commissioner Proby was descended from Sir Peter Proby, Knt., Lord
Mayor of London in 1622, ancestor of the present Earl of Carysfort. He

VOL. II. G

RETIRED CAPTAINS.

His eldest son, a Midshipman in the royal navy, died Nor.
11, 1822, aged 20 years.

HON. SIR GEORGE GREY, BART.

Knight Commander of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath ;
Resident Commissioner of Portsmouth Dock-Yard ; Marshal of the Vice-
Admiralty Court at Barbadots ; an Alderman of Portsmouth ; a Vice-
President of the Naval and Military Bible Society, fyc. fyc. fyc.
THIS officer is the fourth son of the late Earl Grey, K. B.,
a General in the army, Colonel of the 3d regiment of dra-
goons, and Governor of Guernsey, by Elizabeth, daughter of
George Grey, of Southwick, co. Durham, Esq. *

He was born Oct. 10, 1767 5 and at the commencement of

was a Midshipman on board the Centurion, and the first person who
discovered the rich Acapulco ship, captured by Commodore Anson in the
Southern Ocean. In 1757. he commanded the Medway of 60 guns, under
the orders of Sir Edward Hawke, in the expedition against Rochefort. On
the 17th Jnly, 1761, when Captain of the Thunderer 74, he captured, after
a severe and gallant action, 1'Achille of 64 guns and 600 men. The Thun-
derer on this occasion had 17 men killed, and 114, including her com-
mander, wounded. So great a carnage was occasioned by one of the main-
deck guns bursting, which blew up a part of the quarter-deck, and set the
ship on fire. The enemy's loss was also very considerable. In 1769, we
find him with his broad pendant on board the Pembroke, as Commander-
in-Ohief oa the Mediterranean station. In 1771, he was made Comp-
troller of the Victualling Board ; and, before the year elapsed, ap-
pointed Commissioner at Chatham, where he died in 1799, aged 74 years.
He was remarkable for his charitable disposition ; and among other dona-
tions, he allowed 50/. per annum to the poor of Chatham.

* The Greys are a junior branch of an ancient baronial family in Nor-
thumberland, the chief of whom was created Baron Grey, of Werke, by
James I., and advanced to the Earldom of Tankerville by William III. ;
which titles became extinct at the commencement of the last century ;
and the heiress having carried the estates, by marriage, to Charles Benuet,
Lord Ossulton, that nobleman was, in consequence, created Earl of Tan-
kerville in 1714. The late Earl Grey was an officer of great experience,
having served at the battle of Minden, under Prince Ferdinand ; ami on the
plains of Abraham, as aid-de-camp to the immortal Wolfe. He next com-
manded a body of troops during the colonial war; and in 1793, was ap-
pointed to command the army sent against the French West India colonies.
He was born Oct. 23, 1729; created Baron Grey de Howick, June 23,
1801; Viscount Howick and Earl Grey, April 1, 1806. His Lordship
died Nov. 14, 1807; and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,
Charles, the present peer.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 83

the war with France, in 1J93, we find him serving as a Lieu-
tenant on board the Quebec of 32 guns ; from which ship he
was promoted to the command of the Vesuvius bomb ; and
on the 1st Nov. in the same year, he obtained post rank iu
the Boyne, a second rate, bearing the flag of Sir John Jervis ;
with whom he served during the memorable West India cam-
paign *. At the siege of Guadaloupe he commanded a de-
tachment of 500 seamen and marines, landed to co-operate
with the army.

At 11 A. M. on the 1st May, 1/95, soon after Captain
Grey's return to England, and whilst he was attending a
court-martial in Portsmouth harbour, a fire broke out on
board the Boyne, then at Spithead. The flames burst through
the poop-deck before the fire was discovered, and spread so
rapidly, that in less than half an hour the ship was in a blaze
fore and aft ; every exertion on the part of the officers and
crew to save her proved abortive. All her guns being loaded,
went off as they became heated, the shot -falling among the
shipping ; and some even reached the shore in Stokes Bay.
Two men on board the Queen Charlotte were killed, and one
wounded.

About lh 30' P. M. she burnt from her cables, and drifted
slowly to the eastward, till she struck on the Spit opposite
Southsea castle, where she continued to burn until near 6
o'clock, when she blew up with a dreadful explosion. Fortu-
nately, on the fire being first observed by the rest of the fleet,
all the boats were sent to the assistance of her crew ; the
whole of whom, eleven only excepted, were happily rescued
from the impending destruction. All the other ships were
promptly removed to St. Helen's out of the reach of danger.
This unfortunate accident has, by some, been attributed to
the funnel of the ward-room stove being overheated, and
setting fire to some combustible matter in the Admiral's
cabin j but the evidence given by Lieutenant, now Rear- Ad-
miral, Winthrop, who was the commanding officer at the
time, completely contradicts this assertion, as he proved that
the funnel, instead of passing through the Admiral's cabin
towards the poop, led upwards through the lobby on the out-
side of the bulk-head, and, consequently, could not have oc-

* See Vol. I. pp. 19, 710 tt seq., and 840 et *eq.
e 2

84 flETIRED CAPTAINS.

casioned the disaster. It seems much more probable that the
bottoms of the cartridges fired by a party of the 86th regi-
ment, then doing duty on board as marines, and who were
exercising on the poop at the moment when the ship was
tending to the tide, had entered the ports of the cabin, into
which Sir John Jervis's stock had recently been removed,
preparatory to its being landed, and thereby set fire to the
hampers, &c. The rapidity with which the flames extended
throughout, may be attributed to the* state of her planks and
timbers, which had become perfectly dry through long expo-
sure to a West India sun. It should be observed also, that
she was riding with her stern to the wind, which no doubt
greatly accelerated the progress of the fire towards her fore-
castle *.

Captain Grey subsequently commanded the Glory, another
ship of 98 guns, forming part of the Channel fleet. In the
following year we find him in the Victory, a first rate, bearing
the flag of Sir John Jervis, with whom he continued during
the whole period that officer held the command on the Medi-
terranean station. He consequently assisted at the defeat of
the Spanish fleet, off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797 f, on
which occasion the Victory had only 1 man killed and 5
wounded.

Previous to his return to England, his friend the Com-
mander-in- Chief gave him the dormant appointment of Ad-
jutant-General of the Fleet, under which he acted in a certain
degree, so as not to give offence to the senior Captains. The
Admiral, in a letter to Earl Spencer, announcing his intention
of resigning the command to Lord Keith, mentions this cir-
cumstance, and adds, " In the state I am in, Captain Grey
is essentially necessary to my comfort, and I hope your
Lordship will approve of his accompanying me"

In the spring of 1800, Earl St. Vincent hoisted his flag on
board the Ville de Paris of 110 guns, as Commander-in- Chief
of the Channel fleet ; and at the same time our officer assumed
the command of that ship, which he held until the month of

* A man who had lived some years upon a comfortable annuity at a
small village in Staffordshire, died in 1806. On his death-bed he declared
that he had been hired to set fire to the Boyne.

t See Vol. I. p. 21, et teq.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 85

March, 1801. He was soon after appointed to one of the
yachts in attendance on the royal family at Weymouth, and
continued to be employed on that sort of service till about
April, 1804, when he succeeded Sir Isaac Coffin, as Commis-
sioner of Sheerness Dock- yard, from whence he afterwards
removed to Portsmouth, where he now resides.

In June, 1814, his present Majesty, (then on a visit to the
fleet at Spithead, in company with the allied sovereigns) pre-
sented Commissioner Grey with the patent of a Baronetcy ;
and on the 20th May, 1820, he was graciously pleased to
nominate him an extra K. C. B.

Sir George Grey married, in July, 1795, Mary, sister to
the late Samuel Whitbread, Esq., M. P. for Bedford, (who
had some years previous thereto been united to one of his
sisters) by whom he has had several children.

ROBERT GAMBIER MIDDLETON, ESQ.

One of the Principal Officers and Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy.

THE name of Middleton is derived from the lands of Mid-
dletoun, in Kincardineshire, of which this family were in pos-
session for nearly four centuries and a half.

The subject of this memoir is a son of the late George
Middleton, Esq., brother of Admiral Lord Barham, and Col-
lector of the Customs at Leith, by Elizabeth, daughter of
George Wilson, of Stottencleugh, N. B. Esq.

Being destined for the navy, he went to sea at an early
age, and we believe served as a Lieutenant in Lord Hood's
fleet, at the occupation and evacuation of Toulon, in 1793 *.

* In the list of officers employed in the service of burning the French
ships and arsenal at Toulon, we find a Lieutenant Middleton of the Bri-
tannia. Unfortunately for the Compiler, in this, as in numerous other
instances which he has met with, the Christian names of officers were not
considered necessary to be mentioned by the writer of the official despatch :
an omission greatly to be deplored, as we know that the meritorious
actions of some individuals are occasionally, though unintentionally, as-
signed to others, in consequence thereof. Commanding officers, having a
proper feeling for their subordinates, would do well to give their secretaries
and clerks strict orders to insert the names of officers employed on hazard-
ous services, at full length. The palm would then be worn by him who
won it. To evince the necessity of so doing, we need only point to the
Navy List for Jan., 1824, in which will be found no less than 39 Lieute-

96 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

He obtained the rank of Post-Captain, Aug. 11, 1794 ; soon
after which he had an opportunity of distinguishing himself
as a brave officer.

In the month of June, 1/95, he commanded the Lowestoffe,
a 32-gun frigate, with a complement of 212 men, under the
orders of the late Lord Hotham, by whom he was sent, in
company with the Dido, of 28 guns and 193 men, to recon-
noitre the port of Toulon and the adjacent islands. On the
24th of the same month, these ships fell in with two French
frigates, la Minerve of 42 guns and 330 men, and TArt£-
mise of 38 guns and 2/5 men. After some manoeuvring,
Captain George Henry Towry, of the Dido, leading down,
commenced a close action with the headmost and largest of
the enemy's ships, which falling twice on board, was at an
early period much disabled from the loss of her bowsprit,
fore-mast, and main-top-mast ; the Dido's mizen-mast being
shot away, and her fore and main-top-sails rendered useless,
she no longer kept to. At this juncture Captain Middleton
came up, and opened a well-directed fire. L'Artemise ex-
changed broadsides with the British frigates as she passed
them on the opposite tack, and soon after tacked for the pur-
pose of joining her consort ; but upon the approach of the
Lowestoffe sheered off, and succeeded in effecting her escape*.
Captain Middleton, on his return from the pursuit, com-
menced a raking fire upon la Minerve, and soon compelled
her to surrender.

This was justly considered one of the most gallant actions
of that period, la Minerve alone being superior in weight of
metal to both her opponents. Captain Towry, the senior
officer, in his letter to the Commander-in-Chief, acknow-
ledged the very able support he had received from Captain
Middleton, and testified, that " by his good conduct, the
business of the day was, in a great measure, brought to a
fortunate issue f."

nants bearing the name of SMITH ; and, of those, DO less than 5 having
the same Christian name, JOHN ; which also renders it necessary that the
distinguishing italic after the name should not be neglected, as the figures
1, 2, 3, &c. formerly were.

• L'Artemise was destroyed in Aboukir Bay, Aug. 1, 1798.
t Captain Towry \va* afterwards appointed to the Diadem of 64 guns,

KET1RED CAPTAINS. 87

We are not aware of the exact loss sustained by the ene-
my, but that of the British was not so great as might have
been expected ; the Dido had 6 men killed, and 15, including
her first Lieutenant, the late Captain Buckoll, wounded*.
The Lowestoffe had only 3 men wounded.

In the course of the same year, Captain Middletoii was
appointed to the Flora of 36 guns, in which ship he served a
considerable time under the orders of Commodore Nelson, in
the gulf of Genoa and on the neighbouring coasts.

On the 10th July, 179G, the Flora assisted at the occupa-
tion of Porto Ferrajo, which place it was considered neces-
sary to secure, in consequence of the French having taken
possession of Leghorn, and evinced a disposition to seize
upon the island of Elba, in order to facilitate their meditated
invasion of Corsica.

Porto Ferrajo is by nature very strong, and the citadel
nearly impregnable ; notwithstanding which, it surrendered
without resistance, on observing the preparations made by
Commodore Nelson's squadron, and the British troops under
Major Duncan, for storming the place. It was mounted with
100 pieces of cannon, and garrisoned by 400 regulars, besides
a numerous militia.

In April, 1797j soon after the battle off Cape St, Vincent,
Vice- Admiral Waldegrave was appointed Governor of New-
foundland, and the Flora ordered to convey him to England.
On the 3d Nov. following, she received the flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Frederick for a passage to Lisbon ; from whence she
proceeded to her station in the Mediterranean f.

On the 14th May, 1798, Captain Middleton pursued a
French brig, which he compelled to seek shelter in the har-
bour of Cerigo, an island near the Morea ; and there not being
sufficient water for his frigate to follow her, he despatched

and commanded that ship in the glorious battle with the Spanish fleet off
Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797- At the time of his death, which took
place April 9, 1809, he was Deputy Chairman of the Victualling, and junior
Commissioner of the Transport Board. His father, Commissioner G. P.
Towry, died in 1817, aged 84.

* Captain Buckoll commanded the Serpent sloop, and died on the Afri-
can station, April 23, 1798.

t On her passage from England to Lisbon, the Flora assisted at the
capture of 1'Incroyable, a French priraUer, of 24 guns and 220 men.

88 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

the boats to cut her out ; which service they effected in a
most gallant manner, bringing her off in triumph, notwith-
standing a heavy fire from two batteries at the entrance of
the harbour, with the loss of only 1 man killed and 8
wounded. She proved to be le Mondovi, of 16 guns and 68
men, 1 of whom was slain, 5 supposed to be drowned, and 8
dangerously wounded *.

In the course of the following month, Captain Middleton
captured la Corcyre, a French corvette of 16 guns, near
Sicily. During the two succeeding years he was employed
on the Lisbon station, where he cruised with considerable
success against the enemy's privateers and merchantmen.
Among the numerous prizes taken by him, were 1'Intrepide,
of 20 guns and 160 men ; 1'Aventure, 14 guns, 132 men j
N. S. del Carmen, 2 guns, 21 men; 1'Aurore, 8 guns, 33
men ; la Legere, 14 guns, 60 men ; the Rhuiter, 14 guns,
104 men ; Comnesa, 16 guns, 90 men j St. Antonio y Animas,
10 guns, 55 men ; and the Cortes of 4 guns ; making a total
of nine armed vessels, mounting 102 guns, and carrying up-
wards of 640 men. He was also fortunate enough to re-cap-
ture many of their prizes.

In the early part of 1801, the Flora accompanied the fleet
under Lord Keith to Aboukir Bay, where she had several
men killed and wounded, whilst assisting at the debarkation
of the army under Sir Ralph Abercrombie ; with whose re-
mains she was soon after sent to Malta, where they were
interred in the N. E. bastion of the fortifications of la Valette,
on the 29th of April. A black marble stone, laid horizontally,
adorned with a Latin epitaph, marks the place of interment.
The Flora returned to England in the course of the following
month,

Soon after the renewal of hostilities in 1803, we find Cap-
tain Middleton commanding the North Foreland district of
Sea Fencibles. In the summer of 1805, he succeeded Com-r
missioner Otway in the superintendance of the naval yard at
Gibraltar, where he remained until Sept. 1808, at which
period he obtained a seat at the Navy Board, where he still
continues.

* Lieutenant W. Russel, who commanded the boats on this occasion,
di«d Captain of th« Cerei frigate in 1801, aged 35.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 89

Commissioner Middleton married, Dec. 11, 1802, Susan
Maria, daughter of John Martin Leake, of Thorpe Hall, co.
Essex, Esq.

WILLIAM SHIELD, ESQ.

Resident Commissioner of Plymouth Dock-Yard.

THE result of an action brought against this officer, in the
Court of Common Pleas, in March 1792, gave peculiar energy
to the 36th naval article of war * . The plaintiff complained
of an assault and violence used to his person, in consequence
of his refusing to obey an order of Mr. Shield, who was first
Lieutenant of the Saturn 74, and for the time being, com-
manding officer, which order was in itself of the nature of
punishment ; namely, directing him to go to the mast-head,
and there to remain for a certain time, or until called down.
On his refusing to obey, Lieutenant Shield ordered some
men to secure him with a rope, and hoist him up to the mast-
head. The usage of the service, with respect to the mast-
heading of midshipmen for minor offences, was proved by the
testimony of several naval officers. Lord Chief Justice
Loughborough observed, in summing up, that the custom of
the service justified the first order, and rendered it legal ;
therefore the disobeying such order justified the measures
taken to enforce it. The jury, without hesitation, returned a
verdict for the defendant.

On the 16th July, in the preceding year, Admiral Lord Hood?
Vice- Admiral Hotham, Rear- Admiral Go wer, Sir Hyde Parker,
and Captain Richard Onslow, had, in compliance with an order
from the Admiralty, formed themselves into a Court of Inquiry,
in order to ascertain whether Lieutenant Shield's conduct

* By the 36th naval article of war, it is declared, " that all other crimes
not capital, committed by any person or persons in the fleet, which are not
mentioned in this act, or for which no punishment is hereby directed
to be inflicted, shall be punished according to the laws in such case
used at sea." This sweeping clause applies to the punishment of those
offences which were not foreseen by the senate at the time of legislation,
and which could not therefore be specifically provided against ; and, in
order that justice may not be retarded in its course, nor offences pass with
impunity, the old standing customs and usage of the service are directed
to be resorted to, in like manner as the unwritten law is made auxiliary to
the statute.

90 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

towards Mr. Leonard, the plaintiff in the above action, had been
such as to render it necessary for a court-martial to be granted,
according to the wishes of the complainant. Their report
stated that there was no just ground for a court-martial to try
Lieutenant Shield on the charges of tyranny and oppression,
alleged against him by Mr. Leonard ; but on the contrary, it
appeared from the testimony of all the Master's-Mates and
Midshipmen on board the Saturn, that the general tenor of
Lieutenant Shield's conduct had been the very reverse of ty-
rannical and oppressive ; and moreover, that the circum-
stances of the alleged tyranny and oppression originated from
Mr. Leonard's having neglected his duty, in the first in-
stance, and disobeyed the orders of his commanding officer,
subsequent thereto, in a contemptuous and seditious manner.

During this investigation, the court discovered that a com-
bination of the Mates and Midshipmen of the London and
Edgar had been formed on board these ships ; and in con-
sequence thereof, letters of a seditious nature written to
and circulated among the Midshipmen of the other ships of
the squadron, — all tending to the hindrance of the public ser-
vice, and to the subversion of good order and discipline in the
fleet. And it appearing to the court that Mr. Edward Moore,
a Midshipman belonging to the London, had been principally
concerned in those meetings, &c., they directed the said gen-
tleman to be confined, and submitted to the Admiralty the
necessity of his being tried for the same ; adding at the
same time their opinion, that the discipline and good order
of the fleet would be at an end, were such combinations to
pass* without the most exemplary punishment. Mr. Moore
was in consequence tried by a court-martial ; and the charge
preferred against him being in part proved, he was sentenced
to be imprisoned for the space of one calendar month in the
prison of the Marshalsea, and to be severely reprimanded,
and admonished to be more circumspect in future.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
the Saturn was ordered to the Mediterranean, on which sta-
tion Lieutenant Shield was promoted to the rank of Com-
mander, in la Sincere of 20 guns, one of the Toulon prizes.
He subsequently commanded the Berwick 74, and Windsor
Castle, a second rate, the latter bearing the flag of Rear-

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 91

Admiral Linzee, under whom he had before served in the
Saturn. His post commission bears date Oct. 7- 1794.

Some time in the course of that year, a most alarming
mutiny broke out on board the latter ship, in St. Fiorenzo
Bay. The reason assigned by the mutineers, was a dislike to
their Admiral, Captain, first Lieutenant, and Boatswain, all
of whom they declared should be changed before they would
return to their duty. Captain Shield demanded a court-
martial on his conduct ; but there not appearing any thing
to criminate him in the least, he was acquitted ; notwith-
standing which. Admiral Hotham, the Commander-in-Chief,
to satisfy the refractory crew, sent another Captain, Lieute-
nant, and Boatswain, to the Windsor Castle ; and strange to
relate, the mutineers also received a pardon.

In the following year, Captain Shield obtained the com-
mand of the Audacious of 74 guns, and was present in that
ship at the destruction of 1'Alcide, a French 74, off Frejus,
July 13, 1795 *. A few days after that event he was ap-
pointed to the Southampton frigate, and employed under the
orders of Commodore Nelson, harrassing the enemy's coasting
trade on the western shores of the Gulf of Genoa, and in
co-operation with the Austrian army encamped at Savona.

Our officer's next appointment was to 1'Unite, another
frigate, stationed in the North Sea, the command of which he
resigned on her being ordered to the West Indies, in 1799 ;
and from that period we lose^ sight of him until the summer
of 1805, when he commanded the Illustrious of 74 guns, on
the coast of Spain. His subsequent appointments were as
follow : To be Commissioner at Malta, about May, 1807 ; —
In the following year, to superintend the payment of ships
afloat at Portsmouth ; — From thence to be Commissioner at
the Cape of Good Hope, where he remained about four
years, and then succeeded the late Captain Schomberg at the
Navy Board ; — In the summer of 1814, to be Deputy Comp-
troller of the Navy; and, finally, at the latter end of 1815,
Resident Commissioner at Plymouth f.

• See Vol. I. note at p. 264.

f Plymouth dock-yard was first established in 1691; previous to whidk
year the master shipwright and artificers were borne on board one of the
King's ships, fitted for their reception. Woolwich (called by Camden

92 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

WILLIAM BROWELL, ESQ.

Lieutenant-Governor, and a Director, of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich;

and a Trustee of the Naval Charitable Society *.
THIS officer obtained post rank Nov. 29, 1794 ; and com-
manded the Sans Pareil of 80 guns, bearing the flag of Lord
Hugh Seymour, in the action off 1'Orient, June 23, 1J95 f-
He was appointed a Captain of Greenwich Hospital in 1805,
and became Lieutenant -Governor of that establishment early
in 1809. Mrs. Browell, who was a daughter of Rear- Admiral
Faulknor, died Sept. 20, in the same year J.

the mother dock), Deptford, and Portsmouth yards, were founded in lire
reign of Henry VIII. In 1650, there was no mast-house or dry dock at
the latter, and the Commissioner resided within the garrison walls ; the
first house built for that officer was begun in 1664, and finished in 1666.
The first yard established at Chatham stood where the gun-wharf now is ;
but it being too confined a spot, and having only one small dock, was re-
moved about the year 1622, to its present situation. The fort at Sheerness
was built by Charles II. whom we must therefore consider as the founder
of the yard at that place.

* See Vol. I., note • at p. 56. f See Vol. I. p. 246.

J The Royal Hospital at Greenwich, which now stands a proud and
admirable monument of national gratitude, may be said to have originated
in private benevolence, and affection for the service, to the reception of
whose honorable and meritorious veterans it is appropriated.

Those great commanders Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, laid
the foundation of this most excellent institution, in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth (anno 1587). They also assisted in the creation of that noble
fund, the Chest at Chatham, of which mention has already been made in
our 1st Vol. p. 93.

In the year 1694, the establishment at Greenwich first assumed a regular
form. King William and Queen Mary granted the royal palace at that
place, to be converted into an hospitaljfor the reception of decayed seamen ;
and also a sum for extending the building. In 1699, an Act of Parliament
directed that sixpence per month should be deducted from the wages of all
seamen, both in the royal navy and in the merchants' service, for its sup-
port ; and on the 1st Dec. 1704, a Lieu tenant-Governor and other officers
were appointed, previous to the admission of the pensioners. The first
mention we find of the appointment of a First Master and Governor, is in
the year 1708.

In 1/35, the funds of Greenwich Hospital were considerably augmented
by the appropriation of the rents of the attainted Earl of Derwentwater
and Charles Ratcliff, which by Act of Parliament were directed to be ap-
plied, first, to the completion and beautifying of the building; after
which, to the support and maintenance of its inmates. In 1744, all un-
claimed shares of prize-money, at the expiration of three years, were or-

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 93

CHARLES PATTON, ESQ.

THIS officer was a Commander in 1/81 ; obtained the rank
of Post-Captain, May 30, 1795 ; and during the whole of the
late war superintended the transport service at Portsmouth.
He is the author of " An Attempt to establish the Basis of
Freedom on simple and unerring Principles," 8vo. published
in 1793; and of " The Effects of Property upon Society and
Government;" to which is added by his brother, the late
Admiral Philip Patton, " An Historical Review of the Mo-
narchy and Republic of Rome." 8vo. 17^7 *•

Residence. — Fareham, Hants.

WILLIAM EDGE, ESQ.

A Captain of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich.
, THIS officer was made a Commander into the Alert, a
French brig taken at Toulon, and fitted by the British as a
fire- vessel. At the evacuation of that place by the allied
forces, the important service of covering the retreat of Sir
W. Sidney Smith's party was confided to Captain Edge, who
brought off every man of the different guards and detached
parties f.

The Alert being destroyed on this occasion, Captain Edge
was after waads appointed to the Vulcan fire-ship ; and on
his return to England, removed into the Prince George of
98 guns, in which vessel he was present at the discomfiture
of the French fleet, off 1'Orient, June 23, 1795 J. On the

dered to be paid into the Royal Hospital. The following notice appeared
in the London Gazette of Feb. 9, 1802 : " A gentleman who will not per-
mit his name to be known, having by a confidential friend sent to Lord
Hood, Governor of Greenwich Hospital, the amount of the sale of 10,000/.
in the 3 per cent consols, for the use and benefit of the said hospital ; the
Governors and Directors take this method of returning their most grateful
thanks for the very generous gift. This truly benevolent gentleman has
also given the like sum to the Chest at Chatham."

* Admiral P. Patton died near Farekaiu, Hants, Dec. 31, 1815, aged
76 years. He was an officer highly esteemed and justly respected by all
who knew him. His last employment afloat was as Commander-in-Chief
in the Downs ; and when Lord Durham presided over naval affairs, he held
a seat at the Board of Admiralty. A few years before his decease he
published " The Natural Defence of an Insular Empire earnestly re-
commended." 4to.

t See Vol. I. p. 294. J See Vol. I. p. 246.^

94 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

29th of the same month, he obtained the rank of Post-
Captain ; from which period we lose sight of him until the
establishment of Sea Fencibles in the spring of 1798,, when
he was appointed to the command of the district between
Harwich and Yarmouth, having his residence at South wold.
Early in 1809, he succeeded the present Lientenant-Governor
of Greenwich Hospital, as one of the Captains of that esta-
blishment; and .continuing to hold that appointment, was
passed over in the general promotion that took place on the
4th June, 1814.

JAMES BOWEN, ESQ.

One of the Principal Officers and Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy.
THIS officer, a native of Ilfracombe, co. Devon, is descend-
ed from the ancient and respectable family of the Bowens, of
Court House, in the seignory of Gower, in Glamorganshire.

• About the year 1776, we find him commanding a merchant
ship employed in the African, Canada, and Jamaica trade ;
on board which vessel, his gallant brother, the late Captain
Richard Bowen, first Went to sea *. He subsequently entered
the naval service as a Master, and served as such on board
the Artois frigate, commanded by the late Admiral Macbride,
in the battle between Sir Hyde Parker and Admiral Zoutman,
Aug. 6, 1781 f-

SoWe time after this event, Mr. Bowen went into the
Texel in a Dutch fishing boat, closely reconnoitred the ene-

* Captain Richard Bowen commanded the Terpsichore frigate, and fell
covered with wounds at the attack upon Santa Cruz, in the island of Te-
ueriffe, July 24th, 1797- (See Vol. I. note f, at p. 391.) He had landed
at the Mole head, with about fifty of his crew, stormed the battery, spiked
the guns, and was proceeding towards the town, in pursuit of the fugitive
Spaniards, when a tremendous discharge of grape, from some field pieces
in his front, brought him to the ground, with his first Lieutenant, and
many brave followers, at the moment that Nelson received the wound
which caused him the loss of an arm.

Commissioner Bowen had two other brothers in the naval service :
George, a Post-Captain, died at Torquay, Oct. 31st, 1817; and Thomas,
who fell a sacrifice to the climate of the West Indies, when serving as a
Midshipman on promotion, in the Cumberland, Captain Macbride, during
the armament of 1 790.

t See Vol. I. note §, at p. 175.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 96

my's ships lying at that anchorage, and made an accurate
report of their condition to the Admiralty. The Dutch
squadron shortly after attempted to come out; but upon the
Artois making a signal to the British ships in the offing, and
the latter anchoring in the Land Deep, the enemy put back in
such confusion, that a 74 grounded on the Haak Sands, where
she was completely wrecked.

On the 3d Dec. in the same year, the Artois fell in with,
and, after a smart action, captured the Hercules and Mars,
two beautiful privateers belonging to Amsterdam, mounting
24 nine-pounders and 10 cohorns each ; the former having a
complement of 164 men, the latter 146. The Artois, on this
occasion, had 1 man killed and 6 wounded ; the enemy sus-
tained a loss of 22 killed and 35 wounded. These vessels
had been cruising off Flamborough Head, to intercept a fleet
of English merchantmen coming from the Baltic, of which
Mr. Bowen was fortunate enough to obtain information while
watching the Texel in a tender belonging to the Artois.

Early in 1782, the Artois was ordered into the Channel ;
and, in the month of April, she formed part of the fleet which
was sent out under Admiral Harrington, for the purpose of
intercepting a French squadron, then about to sail from Brest
for the East Indies. On the 20th of that month, being a-head
on the look out, she discovered the enemy, and succeeded in
leading them to the British fleet ; by which, in the course of
that and the following day, the Pegase of 74 guns, TAction-
naire, a 64 armed en flute, and twelve transports, laden with
provisions and ammunition, and having on board a consider-
able number of troops *, were captured.

Mr. Bowen continued in the Artois until the peace of 1783,
when he removed with Captain Macbride into the Druid fri-
gate, on the Irish station. In 1787? we find him serving
under the same officer in the Cumberland of 74 guns, sta-
tioned as a guard-ship at Plymouth, where he remained till
1789, when he was appointed Inspecting Agent of Transports
in the river Thames.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
Mr. Bowen, at the particular request of Earl Howe, joined the

* The Pegase was taken by Sir John Jervis, in the Foudroyant. See
Vol. I. p. 15 et «<v/. Fire of the transports were captured by the Artois.

96 » RETIRED CAPTAINS.

Queen Charlotte, a first-rate, bearing that nobleman's flag.
The professional skill and steady conduct displayed by him
during the arduous conflict of June 1, 1794, secured the
veteran Admiral's lasting esteem, and obtained for him the
rank of Lieutenant ; by which the door was opened for his
future advancement in the navy: whilst the different Captains,
at the suggestion of his Lordship, and to evince their high
opinion of Mr. Bowen, appointed him their agent for the
prizes taken on that memorable day *.

Our officer's first commission was for the Queen Charlotte, of
which ship we find him the first Lieutenant in Lord Bridport's
action off 1'Orient, June 23, 1795 f, on which occasion, she
had 4 men slain and 32 wounded. Mr. Bowen, for his con-
duct on that day, was shortly after made a Commander ; but
we are not aware of his having received any appointment
until Sept. 2 following, when he obtained post-rank in the
Prince George of 98 guns, fitting for the flag of Rear- Admiral
Christian, who had recently been appointed to the command
of a squadron destined to attack the French and Dutch settle-
ments in the West Indies. The late period of the season to
which this expedition had been protracted, occasioned the
most disastrous result, as already stated under the head of
Sir Charles M. Pole J. The Prince George lost her rudder,
and was otherwise much disabled; in consequence of which,
the Rear- Admiral, accompanied by Captain Bowen, removed
into the Glory, of similar force.

* At the commencement of the action, the Earl desired Mr. Bowen to
lay the Queen Charlotte close alongside of the Montague, an immense 3-
decker, bearing the flag of the French Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Bowen
kuew his duty, and performed it : he conducted the ship so close under
the stern of the enemy, that the fly of the tri-coloured ensign brushed the
main and mizen shrouds of the Queen Charlotte, as she poured her lar-
board broadside into her opponent's starboard quarter. The Montague
does not appear to have been prepared for action on that side ; her ports
were down, and it was some time before she returned a gun ; the effect
upon this unfortunate ship, as acknowledged by the republican Admiral,
was the loss of 300 men killed and wounded. Mr. Bowen, addressing
Earl Howe frequently during the battle by his title, was heard by the other
officers to receive from his Lordship this grateful and animated reply :
" Mr. Bowen, you call me, ray Lord ! and my Lord ! you yourself deserve
to be a Prince."

t See Vol. I. p. 246, et teg. j See Vol. I. note t, at p. 89, et teg.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 97

On the 9th Dec. in the same year, the squadron made
another attempt to get clear of the Channel ; but after en-
countering weather of the most dreadfully tempestuous de-
scription for a period of seven weeks, was again obliged to
return to port.

A third effort was more successful ; Rear- Admiral Sir Hugh
Christian, and Captain Bowen, in the Thunderer 74, accom-
panied by the Invincible, a third rate, Grampus of 54 guns,
and four smaller vessels of war, with such of the transports
and merchantmen as were ready, sailed from Spithead on the
20th March, and arrived at Barbadoes after a passage of 32
days. On the 22d April, they left Carlisle Bay, in company
with Sir John Laforey, who, on his arrival at Martinique,
resigned the command at the Leeward Islands to Sir Hugh
Christian, by whom preparations were immediately made for
the reduction of St. Lucia *.

After the conquest of that island, and the restoration of
tranquillity in Grenada, St. Vincent's, &c.f, Sir Hugh Chris-
tian, having been superseded by Rear-Admiral Harvey, re-
turned to England in the Beaulieu frigate, and the Thunderer
proceeded with Sir Hyde Parker to the Jamaica station, from
whence Captain Bowen returned home in the Leviathan
74, towards the close of 1^97.

His next appointment was, in 1798, to the Argo of 44
guns ; in which ship he assisted at the reduction of Minorca,
by the forces under the orders of General Stuart and Com-
modore Duckworth J, and recaptured the Peterell sloop of
war, whose officers and crew had been most shamefully
plundered and ill-used by the Spaniards who had captured
them.

On the 6th Feb., 1799* the Argo being on a cruise, hi com-
pany with the Leviathan, discovered two large frigates at
anchor, near a fortified tower on the south point of Alcudia
Bay. Immediately the enemy perceived the British ships,
they cut their cables and made sail. Chase was instantly
given, under all the canvas their pursuers could bear. It
blowing at this time a strong gale, the Leviathan unfortunate-

* See Vol. I. note f at p. 134, and further particulars under the head
of Captain G. F. Ryves, in the present volume.

+ See Vol. I. p. 505. J See Vol. I. p. 762,

VOL. II. H i

98 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

ly carried away her main-top-sail-yard ; by which accident
she dropped a-stern, and was soon lost sight of by the Argo.
The Spaniards separated at the close of the day j but Captain
Bowen, by judicious management and skilful manoeuvres,
kept sight of one of the frigates, which he got alongside of at
midnight, and compelled to surrender. She proved to be
the Santa Teresa, of 42 guns and 530 men. Her consort,
the Proserpine, of similar force, effected her escape.

Captain Bowen shortly after attacked and carried a num-
ber of merchant vessels lying at Tarragona ; but in conse-
quence of their taking the ground when coming out, he was
obliged to set them on fire. He subsequently went on a
mission to Algiers ; and whilst there, had the good fortune
to procure the freedom of six British subjects, who had been
fourteen years in a state of slavery. Previous to his depar-
ture, the Dey, as a mark of friendship, presented him with
a rich Turkish sabre and two fine Arabian horses.

In the month of July following, the Argo received the flag
of Earl St. Vincent, who had been obliged, through ill health,
to resign his command on the Mediterranean station. On
the 6th August, Captain Bowen captured the Infanta Amelia,
a Spanish packet, mounting \2 guns ; and twelve days after-
wards, landed his Lordship at Portsmouth. He was after-
wards employed in affording protection to the Portugal and
Mediterranean trade ; and in addition to several privateers,
captured the San Fernando, a Spanish letter of marque,
pierced for 22 guns, carrying 12, with a complement of 53
men and a cargo of considerable value, a French brig in
ballast, and three vessels laden with iron ore.

In the summer of 1801, Captain Bowen had the gratification
of receiving the following letter from the Secretary of the
Hon. East India Company : —

" East India House, July 3, 1801.

" Sir. — I have great pleasure in obeying the command of the Court of
Directors of the East India Company, by communicating their thanks for
your care and attention in convoying to England from St. Helena, nine of
the Company's ships, together with an extra ship laden on their account;
and in acquainting you, that the Court have presented you with the sum
of 400 guineas, for the purchase of a piece of plate, as an acknowledgment
of those services ; which sura may he received at the Company's Treasury
here. I am, &c.

(Signed) " W. RAMSAY, Sec."

RETIRED CAPTAINS; 99

Whilst abseht in the performance of the service alluded to
in the foregoing letter, Captain Bowen captured two of the
enemy's letters of marque. Early in the following year, the
British Factory at Madeira, of which island he had some time
before taken possession, requested his acceptance of a sword,
as a mark of their respect for his professional character. On
this occasion, similar resolutions concerning him were passed,
as in the case of Captain Thomas Wolley, now a Vice-
Admiral *. He was afterwards appointed to the chief com-
mand on the coast of Africa; from whence he returned to
England, and was put out of commission in 1802.

On the renewal of hostilities in 1803, Captain Bowen ob-
tained the command of the Dreadnought, a new ship of 98
guns ; and in the summer of the same year, was nominated a
Commissioner of the Transport Board. In 1805, the late
Viscount Melville directed him to prepare Falmouth harbour

for the reception of the Western squadron ; which service he
'.,-.-

* " At a General Meeting of the British Consul aud Factory, held at
the Consul's house, on the 23 Jan., 1802 — : ( f|O

".RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY — That the thanks of this Factory be given
to Thomas Wolley, Esq., Captain of H. M. S. Arcthusa, for his very meri-
torious conduct in the discharge of his professional duties, during his com-
mand on this station; and for the exemplary discipline and regularity
preserved on board the different vessels of his squadron. The Factory
with pleasure avail themselves of this opportunity, to acknowledge the
many obligations which the commerce of Madeira owes to Captain Wolley ;
who, very fortunately for the island, has, in the course of the war, had
occasion frequently to visit this station ; and he has uniformly shewn every
attention to the British inhabitants, and given every protection to their
property, which it was in his power to afford.

" The Consul and Factory, as a token of their gratitude for the services
which he has rendered them, and as a mark of their respect for ,his profes-
sional character, request Captain Wolley's acceptance of a sword. And it
it is with singular satisfaction that while, as a public body, they offer this
tribute to his professional conduct, each individual member of this Factory
feels a private gratification in ah opportunity of testifying his personal
attachment to the character of Captain Wolley.

" RESOLVED — That the Consul and Directors be a Committee to carry
the preceding resolve into execution ; and to have an authentic copy trans-
mitted in the most respectful manner to Captain Wolley.

" RESOLVED — That the sword shall be of such a value and workman-
ship, as shall be worthy of the public body which presents, and of the
respectable character who is to receive it."

H 2

100 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

performed, by laying down buoys on the different banks and
moorings for ships of the line ; after which, and serving for
some time as Captain of the Fleet under Earl St. Vincent, he
resumed his seat at the Board *..

In January 1809, Commissioner Bowen added to his well-
earned fame, by the important services which he rendered to
the brave troops, recently commanded by Sir John Moore,
when embarking at Corunna, and for which he received the
thanks of both Houses of Parliament. Since that period, we
believe he has not been afloat. He became a Commissioner
of the Navy about March, 1816.

In 1810, Commissioner Bowen received a letter from a
distant relative, at that time Governor of Teneriffe, where his
gallant brother fell j stating, that the magistrates of the
island, out of regard for the memory of the deceased, and
respect for the surviving relatives, had requested him to re-
ceive the gold seals, chain, and sword, of the late Captain
Richard Bowen, which had been kept ever since, in the Town
House of that island, as a record of their defeat of the English
on that occasion, and which was all that they could recover
belonging to him, the populace having stolen his watch and
other valuables : the sword, chain, and seals, had been care-
fully preserved; and they requested the Governor to beg
Commissioner Bowen would accept them, as they conceived
such relics would be grateful to his feelings ; and, as the
two nations were then firmly united in a cause, which reflect-
ed equal honor on both, they did not wish to retain a trophy
which could remind them that they had ever been opposed to
each other.

Captain James Bowen, of the Phoenix frigate, eldest son
of the subject of this memoir, died on the East India station,
in 1812. In him, his country lost an active, brave, and skil-
ful officer, and society an amiable and distinguished ornament.

Another son of the Commissioner's, John, obtained post
rank, January 22d, 1806. His youngest son, St. Vincent,
was admitted into holy orders in 1823.

* Admiral Cormvallis rendezvoused at Falmoutb several times in 1805 ;
and in the succeeding year, Commissioner Bowen conducted the fleet under
Earl St. Vincent, consisting of five 3-deckers and eight other line-of?
battle ships, into that port, where he moored them in safety.

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 101

ROBERT LARKAN, ESQ.

A Captain of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich.

THIS officer was born at Athlone, in Ireland, Dec. 27,
1756, and at the age of fourteen years was placed by his
uncle, the late Captain John P. Ardesoif, R. N. under the
protection of Captain George Vandeput, commanding the
Solebay frigate. He subsequently served as a Midshipman
on board the Terrible and Ramillies, third rates ; Argo 44 ;
Pelican sloop of war; and Prince of Wales 74, the latter
bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Barrington, on the Leeward
Islands station.

Whilst serving under that distinguished commander, Mr.
Larkan was present at the capture of St. Lucia*, and bore a
part in the action between Vice- Admiral Byron, and the
Count d'Estaing, off Grenada, July 6, 1779 f. On the 28th
April, 1780, after having acted for some time as a Lieutenant
in the Diana frigate, he was confirmed to that rank in the
Culloden 74. From the following months until Nov. 1783, he
served as such under the late Lord Hugh Seymour in the Diana,
Ambuscade, and Latona, principally attached to the grand
fleet, at that period employed cruising in the Bay of Biscay,
and escorting supplies to the besieged garrison of Gibraltar.
The last named frigate afforded such essential service,
during the relief of that fortress by Earl Howe, that we think
it proper to enter into a more minute account of what passed
on that memorable occasion, than we did in our first volume.

On the 9th Oct. 1782, being then abreast of Cape St. Vincent, Lord
Howe sent a Lieutenant into Faro to gain intelligence ; who returned with
the news that the enemy had failed in their grand attack, and that the
combined fleets of France and Spain, consisting of forty-seven sail of the
line, three ships of 56 guns each, besides frigates, &c. were lying off Alge-
ziras, for the purpose of preventing any supplies being carried to the rock.
At five P. M. on the following day, the British fleet, consisting of thirty-
four sail of the line, five frigates, three fire-vessels, and twenty-nine trans-
ports, brought to on the starboard tack, about fourteen leagues from the
entrance of the Gut. At eight A. M. on the llth, it having blown hard the
preceding evening, the signal was made to close ; and at 10h 30' to form
the line of battle a-head ; the transports, under protection of the LatonaA

* See Vol. I, note * at p. 103.
f See note f at p. 50. et seq. of this volume.

102 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

preceding the fleet to the eastward. The same evening the Latona an-
chored in the bay, and Lord Howe, in the Victory, passed the rock. On the
12th the Latona came out and brought Captain Curtis of the navy to the
Commauder-in-Chief : only four of the transports fetched into the bay ;
the remainder were driven by the current up the Mediterranean, whither
the fleet also repaired. Oct. 13th, the Panther of 60 guns, anchored off
the garrison. At eleven A. M. the Latona, abreast of Europa point, in-
formed the Admiral by signal that the enemy were in motion, and bore up
to close with the fleet. At sun-down the enemy were seen about six
leagues to windward, in line-of-battle on the larboard tack, forty-nine sail
of square-rigged vessels, forty-two of which appeared to be of the line.
The Latona and another frigate were ordered to reconnoitre.

At two A. M. on the 14th, the Latona made the signal for the enemy
having tacked. At six they were not in sight from the decks of the British
ships. Oct. 15, Gibraltar distant about ten leagues. The next day very
thick weather with a heavy swell ; Latona informed Lord Howe that
eighteen more of the transports were safe in the Mole. At four P. M. on
the 1 7th, the fleet stood over for Tetuan Bay, with intention to anchor
there, but found it was not sufficiently capacious. On the 18th, Captain
Holloway of the Buffalo, who had been sent to the Zaffarine islands, hove
in sight, and got safe into the bay with all the remainder of the transports
under1 his protection, one 'brig alone excepted *. In the evening Captain
Curtis'again went on board the Latona, charged with the final communi-
oatiqna the Governor had to make to Earl Howe. At six A. M. on the
19th, wind about east, the Crown made the signal for the enemy's fleet.
His Lordship attempted to form, but finding it impracticable, ran through
the Gut with his colours flying as a challenge. At four P. M. the Captain
of the Latona went on board the Victory, with the news of his having cap-
tured'and destroyed a Spanish fire- vessel ,• he also carried with him Cap-
tain Vallotton, aid-de-camp to General Elliot, and Captain Curtis, returning
to England with despatches. The loss sustained by the British in the en-
suing skirmish has already been stated in a note at p. 42, of this volume.

The Spanish fire-vessel just alluded to was taken posses-
sion of, and conducted into Gibraltar Bay, by Lieutenant
Larkan, who appears to have had a most miraculous escape
from destruction, she being actually on fire in several places,
and her hatches all battened down, when boarded by him.
On searching the prize several lighted matches were disco-
vered in various parts, some of which had communicated
their fire to rags and other combustibles, whilst one was
found sticking in 'a barrel of filled cartridges placed under the
cabin. The man who had been ordered to inspect that part of
the vessel, was so much alarmed, that instead of attending to

* See Vol. I. fc. 107.

RETIRED CAFfAINS. . 103

Lieutenant Larkan's order enjoining him to be steady, to take
up the match gently and hand it to him, he threw it up the
scuttle with such force that it fell down an adjoining hatch-
way where a large quantity of combustible matter was depo-
sited ; and but for the promptitude of Lieutenant Larkan, who
seeing another man standing near, instantly pushed him down
upon the match, which was thereby fortunately extinguished,
the most alarming consequences might have followed. Others,
however, being secreted in different parts, as was evident
from the increased smoke, Lieutenant L'arkan having suc-
ceeded in reaching Gibraltar Bay about mid-night, and re-
ported the condition of the vessel to his Captain, was ordered
to destroy her without delay, a service which he performed
so effectually, that in little more than a quarter of an hour
the water for some distance was covered with her burning
wreck.

On the appearance of hostilities with Spain in 1790, Lieu-
tenant Larkan again joined Lord Hugh Seymour, in the Ca-
nada of 74 guns ; and at the commencement of the French
war in 1793, he accompanied him to the Mediterranean in
the Leviathan, a ship of the same force.

During the memorable actions of May 29 and June 1,
1794, the Leviathan, at that period attached to Lord Howe's
fleet, bore a distinguished part. The veteran Admiral, in his
supplementary official letter, dated June 21, thus notices her
conduct on the 28th of the former month :

" The quick approach of night only allowed me to observe, that Lord
Hugh Seymour Conway in the Leviathan, with equal good judgment and
determined courage, pushed up alongside of the 3-decked French ship, and
was supported by Captain Parker of the Audacious, in the most spirited
manner. I have since learnt that the Leviathan stretched on farther
a-head, for bringing the second ship from the enemy's rear to action, as
soon as her former station could be occupied by a succeeding British ship ;
also that the 3-decker in the enemy's rear, as aforesaid, being unsustained
by their other ships, struck to the Audacious, and that they parted company
together soon afterwards.'' Respecting the Leviathan on the ensuing day,
his Lordship adds : — " The Queen Charlotte was therefore immediately
tacked ; and followed by the Bellerophon, her second astern, and soon after
joined by the Leviathan, passed through in action, between the fifth and
sixth ships in the rear of the enemy's line."

On the 1st June, the Leviathan engaged 1'Am^rique of 74
guns, bearing the broad pendant of a French Commodore,

104 KETIRKD CAPTAINS.

and fairly beat her out of the enemy's line j but such was the
obstinacy of her commander, that although she had been ren-
dered perfectly defenceless, and her firing had entirely ceased,
he could not be prevailed on to strike. Lord Hugh was at
length obliged to leave his antagonist, and close with the
British Admiral, in obedience to a signal then flying : 1'Ame-
rique soon after struck to the Russel, without making any
further resistance. The Leviathan had 10 men killed and 33
wounded, whilst the French ship, in the different actions, had
134 slain and 110 wounded.

Mr. Larkan's conduct, as first Lieutenant of the Leviathan,
on those eventful days, procured for him almost immediate
promotion j and we subsequently find him commanding the
Hornet sloop of war. His advancement to the rank of Post-
Captain took place Sept. 16, 1796 j. and from this period till
the peace of Amiens, he was employed in the Camilla, a
20-gun ship, principally on the North Sea and American
stations.

Captain Larkan appears to have been doomed to a state of
painful inactivity during the whole of the late war. He was-
appointed to the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, in Jan. 1818,
and placed on the retired list in Aug. of the following year.
His brother was first Lieutenant of the Defence in the battle
of the 1st June, and is now a Commander on half pay.

HON. COURTENAY BOYLE.

One of the Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy ;
and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

THIS officer is the third son of Edmund, seventh Earl of
Cork ami Orrery, by his first Countess, Anne, daughter of
Kelland Courtenay, Esq. and niece to John, fourth Earl of
Sandwich.

He was born Sept. 3, 1769, and entered the naval service
Feb. 19, 1781, as a Midshipman, on board the Latona frigate,
commanded by the late Sir Hyde Parker, [n this ship he
witnessed the action between the squadron under the com-
mand of his Captain's veteran father, and that of Holland under
Admiral Zoutman * ; some time after which he had the mis-
fortune to fall from the booms into the orlop, and was
* See Vol. I. note § at p. 1 75,

RETIRED CAPTAINS. 105

obliged to go on shore for his recovery. He subsequently
joinedtheGoliah 74, and remained in that vessel until April 8th,
1783, when he was sent to the Naval College at Portsmouth,
where he continued until March 1784; at which period he
re-commenced his professional career, under the auspices of
the great Nelson, in the Boreas frigate, and sailed in her to
the West Indies, from whence he returned to England in the
summer of 1787-

The Boreas having been put out of commission, Mr. Boyle
was received, at the recommendation of Captain Nelson, on
board the Barfleur 98, bearing Lord Hood's flag ; and in that
ship he continued until the 25th Nov. 1788, when he was re-
moved into the Leander 50, the flag-ship of Admiral Peyton,
by whom, on the 5th June 1789, he was appointed to act as
Lieutenant in the Aquilon frigate, on the Mediterranean sta-
tion. He subsequently served in the same capacity on board
the Vanguard 74, and was at length confirmed in that rank and
appointed to the Roebuck, a 44 on two decks.

At the commencement of the war against revolutionary
France, in 1793, we find Mr. Boyle fourth Lieutenant of the
Egmont, of 74 guns, commanded by the late Sir Archibald
Dixon, This ship, after fitting at Plymouth, proceeded with
the squadron under Rear- Admiral Gell, to convoy the East
India fleet to a certain latitude ; and then cruised between the
Western Isles and the coast of Spain. On the 14th April,
the squadron captured the General Dumourier, French Priva-
teer of 22 guns and 196 men, and retook the St. Jago re-
gister ship, her prize, which, after a tedious litigation, was
condemned, when the captors shared largely, each of the
Lieutenants receiving 1,400/.*

On the 27th of the following month, Lord Hood, then at
Gibraltar, appointed Lieutenant Boyle to the Fox cutter, and
charged him with despatches for the Admiralty. Our officer
afterwards served in the Excellent and Saturn ships of the
line j and in the spring of 1795, accompanied Commodore
Payne in the Jupiter of 50 guns, to bring over H. S. H. the
Princess Caroline of Brunswick from Cuxhaven. On his
return from that service, he was promoted, April 1795, to the
rank of Commander j and during the month of October fol-
lowing, obtained an appointment to the Kangaroo, a new brig
* See Vol. I, note f, at p. 757.

106 RETIRED CAPfAINS.

of 18 guns, in which he cruised with considerable success
against the enemy's privateers and other armed vessels on
the Lisbon and Irish stations. He obtained post rank. June
30th, 1797.

From this period until the beginning of the ensuing year,
Captain Boyle remained on half-pay. He was then appointed
to the Hyaena, of 24 guns, and served in her off Cherbourg,
St. Maloes, and the Isle of Bas, until March 1799, when he
was obliged to resign his ship in consequence of the injury
he had sustained from being thrown out of a carriage, when
about to sail for Lisbon,

His next appointment was, in the ensuing month of June,
to the Cormorant, of 24 guns ; in which ;ship, after being for
some time in attendance upon the royal family at Weymouth,
he was sent to the Mediterranean, and on the passage out
captured a Spanish brig of 14 guns and 87 men, and retook
an English West Indiaman. On the 20th May, 1800, the
Cormorant was wrecked ofFDamietta, on the coast ;of Egypt,
when on her way to Alexandria, with despatches from Lord
Keith to Sir W. Sidney Smith, containing the ratification of
the treaty of El Arish. Contrary to the usages of war, Captain
Boyle was kept in close confinement for nearly three months,
during which period the French General Menou, into whose
power he had fallen, treated him in the most savage manner,
telling him that he must consider himself as an hostage for
the safety of Bodot, who had been an aide-de-camp to Buona-
parte, and was then in the hands of the Grand Vizier.

Having at length recovered his liberty, Captain Boyle
joined Sir W. Sidney Smith at Cyprus, and from thence went
to Minorca, where a court martial assembled, Nov. 17th,
1800, to inquire into the circumstances by which the loss of
the Cormorant was occasioned. The court were unanimously
of opinion, that it arose from an error in the reckoning, occa-
sioned by the great incorrectness of the charts^ and that the
conduct and exertions of Captain Boyle, were highly merito-
rious and exemplary on the unfortunate occasion ; and did
therefore adjudge him to be fully acquitted of all blame.

From this period, our officer remained unemployed tin
the spring of 1803, when he was appointed to the Seahorse
frigate, and ordered to the Mediterranean, where he was most

RETIRED CAPTAINS.

actively employed under the immortal Nelson, during a most
important part of his Lordship's command on that station.

In the summer of 1805, Captain Boyle exchanged into the
Amphitrite, a Spanish prize frigate, and returned to England.
His last appointment afloat was May 31, 1806, to the Royal
William, bearing the flag of the Port Admiral at Spithead,
the command of which ship he retained until the month of
June, 1809, when he succeeded the late Captain Towry as a
Commissioner of Transports. The controul of the dock-yard
at Sheerness was confided to him in the summer of 1814;
and some time after he was appointed, by an order in council,
to superintend the bringing up of the arrears of the accounts
left unaudited by the Transport Board at the time of its dis-
solution. He has recently obtained a seat at the Navy Board.

Commissioner Boyle married, in 1J99, Caroline Amelia,
daughter of the late William Poyntz, of Midgham House,

co. Berks, Esq. His son is a Lieutenant R. N.

3 •

ISAAC WOLLEY, ESQ.

Deputy Chairman of the Victualling Board.

THIS officer, a brother of Vice- Admiral Thomas Wolley,
was educated at the celebrated maritime school formerly estab-
lished at Chelsea, and which furnished the navy with many
excellent officers. At the commencement of the French war
in 1793, we find him holding the rank of Lieutenant, and
commanding a large ship in the West India trade. He sub-
sequently joined the Santa Margaritta frigate, commanded by
the present Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey, with whom he served
on shore at the reduction of Martinique by the naval and mi-
litary forces under Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey *.

* After the investiture of Fort Bourbon by the British, Captain Harvey
landed at the head of 300 seamen and a party of marines from his own
ship, the Solebay, and Nautilus, and instantly began to proceed with a 24-
pounder and two other guns from the wharf in the Cul de sac Cohe'e to-
wards Sourier, a post recently taken by Sir Charles Grey, and near which
that General had established his head-quarters. After cutting a road
through a thick wood for nearly a mile ; making a sort of bridge, or rather
passage, across a river, which they effected by filling it up with large
stones and branches of trees ; and levelling the banks of another river by
the removal of immense fragments of rock, this persevering party, on the
third day, tp the astonishment of the whole army, got the 24-pounder to

108 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

From the Santa Margaritta, Lientenant Wolley removed
into the Boyne, a second rate, bearing the flag^ of Sir John
Jervis, by whom he was entrusted with the command of 180
seamen landed from that ship to co-operate with the British
army in the island of Gaudaloupe, after the recapture of that
colony by the republican forces *.

the heights of Sourier before the night shut in, and two howitzers within a
mile of it. On the following day they got two other 24-poanders and the
howitzers to the heights, the distance from which to the wharf where they
landed is near five miles. When we consider that the road was to be
formed for near four miles of the way, one of which was through a very
thick wood, and that, as they approached Sourier, for near a mile, the road
was so steep, that a loaded mule could not walk directly up it, it seeuas
scarcely credible that so small a number of men should be able to have un-
dergone sueh severe fatigue, considering the climate and the nature of the
soil, which was a very stiff clay intermixed with large stones. The
assistance thus rendered to the army by these brave fellows was invaluable;
and the compliments paid them in general orders for their spirited con-
duct, is a convincing proof that they never once relaxed from their first
exertions during the whole siege of Fort Bourbon, a period of five weeks.
Indeed their astonishing exertions were almost beyond probability : after
rain, which fell frequently, the steep parts of the road were so slippery,
that a man even with the greatest care would often slip back tea and some-
times twenty feet at a time : but so determined were the honest tars not
to fail in what they undertook, that when once they set out with a gun
after heavy raiu, and found it impossible to keep their footing, they have
crawled up as they dragged the ponderous engine of destruction, and kept
themselves from falling back by sticking their fingers in the ground. Bat
among the many 'compliments paid the seamen, none pleased them so
much as having a battery appointed solely for them, where they used to
relieve one another by turns, without even an additional allowance of grog
as an encouragement. The following anecdote is related by a gentleman
who published an account of the West India campaign in the year 1/94: —

"One day, when the Commander-in-Chief of the army met Captain Har-
vey's detachment of seamen on the road, they, being ignorant that a bat-
tery was appointed for them to serve in, surrounded the General, and

offered him their services, swearing they thought it d d hard to have all

work and no fighting ; and hoped his honour would let them have some share
in it. Upon the General replying, " Well, my lads, you shall have a bat-
tery to yourselves," they saluted him with three hearty cheers, and went
readily to their work again."

Previous to the surrender of Fort Bourbon, Lord Garlics, now Earl of
Galloway, joined the naval detachment at Sourier, with a reinforcement
of seamen and marines.

• See Vol. I. note at p. 841.

RETIRED CAPl'AINS. 109

On the 22d June 1794, whilst the main body of the troops
were employed in erecting batteries against Fort Fleui-
d'Epee, the Hon. Captain Stewart commanding the 9th gren-
adiers, and Lieutenant Wolley with a party of sailors,
marched from Grozier to attack St Ann's fort, a strong post
about twelve or fourteen miles to windward. After a most
fatiguing march, during which some heavy showers of rain
rendered the roads almost impassable, they reached the foot
of the hill on which the fort was situated ; up which they
scrambled so leisurely, and such a profound silence reigned
among their people, that they approached within fifteen or
twenty paces of the centinel before he perceived them, though
he was apparently alert on his post. The French guide was
now so terrified that he fired his pistol at the centinel, which
gave the alarm ; when the British party instantly rushed for-
ward, and with three cheers began to storm the works. The
enemy were completely surprised, and not more than two of
them escaped. During this the French royalists who had
accompanied Captain Stewart and Lieutenant Wolley,
marched into the town, where they began the most brutal
excesses; but the humane exertions of those officers soon
put a stop to their mischievous proceedings. In this attack
Hear 400 republican soldiers were killed, and one prisoner
taken : on the side of the British only one man was wounded,
b.ut Lieutenant Wolley and his followers had some narrow
escapes. The commanding officer of the fort rushed out of
the guard-room on the alarm being given, with a lighted
match in his hand. He first fired a gun which was luckily
pointed in an opposite direction; he then three times at-
tempted to fire a 24-pounder as Lieutenant Wolley and his
men were advancing to the muzzle of it ; but fortunately,
either from the dampness of the priming, or trepidation of the
man, it missed taking effect ; on which he flung down his
match, and retreated to the further end of the fort, pursued
by Lieutenant Wolley, who, owing to the darkness of the
night, soon lost sight of him, and as he returned was met by
some of his own party, who, taking him for an enemy, were
about to put him to death, when his voice discovered to them
their mistake. Had the gun in the first instance gone off, it
must have made considerable havock among the assailants.

110 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

as it was loaded with a bag of musket-balls. Several light
sloops and schooners were found in the bay, one of which
was sent by the commanding officers with an account of their
success to the Admiral and General. It being impossible to
keep possession of this post, from the small number of our
troops, and intelligence being brought that a large detach-
ment of the enemy were on their way to cut off the retreat of
the party, it was determined to return to the camp without loss
of time, all the ammunition having been previously destroyed,
and the guns of the fort dismounted. The day proving un-
usually hot, and the roads being deep and slippery in conse-
quence of the heavy rains that had fallen during the prece-
ding night, they were not able to reach the camp without
halting ; they therefore took post at a planter's house on an
eminence, where they were received with great hospitality.
By three P. M., the men who had dropped down on the road
through fatigue, were brought in, except two, who reached
the camp next morning, and the party proceeded to their
different stations without further accidents.

From this period the operations carried on against the
French republicans in Guadeloupe, are thus described by the
Rev. Cooper Willyams, late Chaplain of the Boyne, in his
interesting narrative, which we have already alluded to in the
course of this memoir :

" On 'Tuesday the 24th of June, General Grey opened his batteries,
which he had erected near Grozier, against Fleur d'Epe'e ; at the same
time Brigadier-General Dundas kept up a smart fire on Point a Pitre,
where the enemy seemed to be making preparations against the hurricane
months, now approaching, by stripping the ships in the harbour of their
sails and rigging. On the 26th, early in the morning, the enemy, to the
number of three hundred, made a sortie from Fleur d'Epe'e, on our ad-
vanced post, consisting of one hundred men, but were soon obliged to re-
treat ; we lost one man killed and eight wounded : at the same time our
batteries and gun-boats cannonaded the fort ; in the latter two seamen
were wounded. On the 27th, the batteries at Grozier having opened as
usual on Fleur d'Epe'e, a detachment of our troops under Brigadier-Ge-
neral Fisher inarched forward to attack a piquet of the enemy posted on
Morne Mascot, from whence they drove them after a sharp contest, and
established themselves, as our advanced post, within musket-shot of the
fort. During the preceding night the light infantry at camp Berville were
sent by Brigadier-General Dundas, under command of Major Ross of
the 25th regiment, to Petit Bourg, where they embarked, and joined the
army at Grozier. This movement, by which the main body was much

RETIRED CAPTAINS.

strengthened, was effected unperceived by the enemy, and the 39th and
43d regiments only left at Berville.

" Several skirmishes now daily took place, and many fell on both
sides ; though, from want of steadiness at the last, the enemy were always
greater losers than ourselves. On the morning of the 29th of June, a
large body of the enemy, to the number of one thousand, marched out of
Fort Fleur d'Epee, and seemed to meditate an attack on a detachment of
light infantry under Colonel Gomm, posted to the right of the grenadiers
who were on Morne Mascot, under Brigadier-General Fisher. By this
false movement, they hoped that a detachment of the grenadiers would be
sent to reinforce the light infantry, and thereby weaken the force on Morne
Mascot, which was their real object of attack. In a short time, however,
they were perceived mounting the side of Mascot heights, with colours
flying and singing the national songs, covered by a heavy fire of round and
grape-shot from Fleur d'Epee, which prevented our grenadiers from shew-
ing themselves till the enemy were close to them ; on which General Fisher
made them prostrate themselves on the ground, and wait the approack of
the enemy in that posture. The instant the republicans came within a few
yards of them they started up, and an obstinate engagement commenced,
which terminated at length by the grenadiers advancing to the charge j on
which the enemy fled, and were pursued down the hill with great slaughter.
Our loss amounted to thirty killed and wounded : among the former was
Lieutenant Toosey of the 65th regiment ; of the latter, Captain De Ri-
vigne of the artillery, received a ball in the side of his neck. Brigadier-
General Fisher was hit three times by grape-shot, which caused contusions
only, and his horse was killed under him. In the evening the enemy sent
in a flag of truce, requesting permission to bury their dead and carry off
their wounded, which was granted them ; yet they left a number of both*
on the side of the hill, to the great annoyance of our piquet, which during*
the following night was disturbed by the groans of the dying and wounded.
The day following the enemy again made an attempt, in equal force,
against our post on Mascot, and was again repulsed with great loss. The
rainy season being already set in, and the hurricane months now approach-
ing, determined the Commander-in-Chief to make an effort to finish the
campaign at once. From bis success in the two last engagements, and
the excellent manner in which he had planned the attack, it would nd
doubt have succeeded, had his orders been punctually obeyed. The plan
he had laid down was, for a large body of troops under General Symes,
to march during the night, and make themselves masters of Morne Go-
vernment, and the other commanding heights round the town of Point &
Pitre, whilst himself, at the head of the rest of his army, was in readiness
on the heights of Mascot to storm Fort Fleur d'Epee, on receiving a signal
from General Symes ; but, from some unfortunate misapprehension, the
whole of General Grey's well-concerted plan was rendered abortive, and
the almost total destruction of our exhausted forces ensued : but it is my
business to detail the events of this unfortunate aflair as accurately as the
confused accounts I have received will permit. Brigadier-General Symes,

112 RETIRED CAPTAINS.

having under his command the first battalion of grenadiers, commanded by
Brigadier-General Fisher, and the first and second light infantry, led by
Colonel Gotnm, with a detachment of seamen from the Boyne * and
Veteran, commanded by Captain Robertson of the Veteran, marched from
the heights of Mascot at about nine o'clock at night, on the 1st of July.
They first descended into a deep ravine thick planted with coffee bushes,
through which there was no road, the seamen bringing up the rear. The
night was uncommonly dark, which rendered their march both dangerous
and fatiguing. After proceeding about a mile they halted on a road, and
were joined by two small field-pieces, which were put under the charge
of Lieutenants Thomson and Maitland, to be dragged by their seamen.
During the halt some people, who were heard to speak French, were seen
near the rear ; Lieutenant Wolley endeavoured to secure them, but they
escaped through the bushes, and no further notice was taken of this. The
army moved forward about two miles further, on a road leading through
deep ravines, and made a second hall for about an hour ; the march was
then re-commenced, but no orders ever passed during the time : they now
proceeded for some miles without meeting with any obstruction, when an
order came for the seamen in the rear to advance to the attack, which they
did by running as fast as they could for upwards of a mile. The parties
they passed were not in the best order, owing to the quickness of the
march, until they came to the grenadiers, who were drawn up as a corps de
reserve. About this time the bugle horn sounded to advance, and soon
after a heavy firing of round and grape-shot from Morne Government, and
also from several other batteries of the enemy, commenced, as also from
some twelve-pounders, landed from the shipping in the harbour, which
were placed in tiers, and entirely enfiladed the road along which the troops
were advancing. After passing the grenadiers, the seamen were halted for
a few minutes to form, they being perfectly out of order from running ;
but scarce thirty of them were got together, when Lieutenant Wolley was
ordered to advance with them, and Captain Robertson remained to form
and bring up the rest. The cannonading from the enemy's guns was the
most severe the oldest soldier ever witnessed, especially from the guns
which were on the road ; two or three tiers of which were planted behind
each other, from which the enemy were driven by the bayonets of our
gallant fellows, who no sooner had taken one battery, but another opened
on them from behind. The whole now became a scene of confusion im-
possible to describe. Instead of any of the heights being attempted, the
greater part of the troops and the seamen were got into the town, where
they were mowed down by the grape-shot, which played upon them in
every direction f, as well as musketry from the windows of the houses.

* Lieutenant Wolley of the Boyne, was appointed acting major of bri-
gade ; and Lieutenants Thomson and Maitland, and Mr. Oswald, com-
manded the three companies of seamen.

f One of the frigates in the harbour did great execution ; by a single

RK1IRED CAPTAINS. 113

Wherever our men perceived this, they broke open the doors, putting all
they found in them to death ; and those who could not stand the bayonet
were shot as they leaped from the windows. General Symes was by this
time badly wounded, and his horse killed under him. Colonel Gomm
(who led the light infantry), with several other officers, was killed, and a
great many more desperately wounded ; and Captain Robertson, who
commanded the seamen, was blown up. At length General Fisher (the
second in command, who, as well as every other officer on this service, was
ignorant of General Syme's plans) sounded a retreat, and the miserable
remains of this gallant party marched off, the enemy harassing them in
their retreat, though kept at bay by the gallant exertions of the Honour-
able Captain Stewart with a party of Grenadiers, assisted by Lieutenant
Wolley and the seamen of the Boyne, who covered the retreat ; till at
length the latter fell by a musket-ball through his leg, and was brought
off by his men. When the remains of this unfortunate detachment got
back to Mascot, General Grey found it in vain to attempt any thing against
Fleur d'Epde, being obliged to detach the second battalion of grenadiers to
cover the retreat, and his troops being all so much reduced and exhausted,
yet from the effect of the batteries he had erected to cover his attack of
Fleur d'Epe*e, which opened on that fort in the evening, there could have
been no doubt of success had not the above-related misfortune taken
place *. It being totally impossible to attempt any thing further at this
season, the General that night began to re-imbark his cannon and mortars,
and in two days had got off* the whole of his troops without loss ; he then
strengthened the posts on Basse Terre, and having made the best arrange-
ments possible to maintain them, and to enable him to renew his attacks
on Point a Pitre and Fleur d'Epe"e after the hurricane months, in case any
reinforcements should arrive (without which it would be totally impossible),
he embarked on board the Boyne, leaving Brigadier-General Colin Graham
to command on Basse Terre, and then repaired to St. Pierre in the island
of Martinique, where he established his head-quarters. The Boyne pro-
ceeded to Fort Royal Bay, where she was laid up for the hurricane months
in a snug harbour, called Trois Islet Bay, and the sick and wounded were
landed for the benefit of fresh air, and every attention paid to them that
could alleviate their sufferings.

" During the whole time of this latter campaign the fever, which had
been so destructive the preceding year, continued to rage in our navy and
army with unabated violence. General Grey lost all the servants he brought
from England by it, including two who had lived with him for many years.
It first broke out with violence when the former campaign ended."

discharge of grape-shot, killing three officers and thirty-six privates of the
light infantry, who were unfortunately drawn up in a street effectually
commanded by her guns.

* Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to thirty-eight
officers, forty-three Serjeants, and six hundred and eleven privates.

VOL. Ik I

114 RETIRED CAPTAINS,

The exact period at which Mr. Wolley was prompted to
the rank of Commander we are not acquainted with. His
commission as a Post- Captain bears date Sept. 1, 1797 j and
we soon after find him commanding the Nonsuch of 64 guns,
stationed in the river Humber. In 1800, he was removed to
the Circe frigate, and sent to the West Indies ; from whence
he returned in the autumn of 1802. During the late war, he
commanded in succession the Gelykheid and Africa, 64 's,
and Captain, a third rate ; in the latter ship he accompanied
the expedition under Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart,
against Copenhagen, in 1807 *.

Towards the close of 1813, Captain Wolley, who had for
some time before superintended the Naval Yard at Jamaica,
was appointed Resident Commissioner at Gibraltar, from
whence he removed to Malta in 1818. He has recently re-
turned to England, and entered on the duties of his new ap-
pointment as Deputy Chairman of the Victualling Board.
The Commissioner enjoys a pension of 25Ql.per annum, for
the severe wound he received at Guadaloupe in 1795.

POST-COMMISSION dated Sept. 11, 1/97; placed on tke
retired list in 1821 ; resides at New Park, Axminster, Devon,

• See Vol. I. p. 79, et *>q.

115

POST-CAPTAINS.

AISKEW PAFFARD HOLLIS> ESQ.

A Colonel of the Royal Marines *.

THIS officer entered the naval service at au early age un-
der the protection of Captain (afterward Vice-AdmiraJ}

* At a period when the commerce of this country bere no proportion
to its present extent, the supplies of seamen, under a system of impress,
were extremely precarious, and often inadequate to the public emergen-
cies. Experience had also shewn, that raw landsmen were most improper
substitutes, as the sudden change of life rendered them subject to imme-
diate disease and sea-sickness, at a tim6 when their active serrices were
required.

These united causes originally suggested the expediency of forming an
establishment of marines, who were raised and embodied with the sole
view of being a nursery to man our fleets. They were always quartered in
the vicinity of our principal sea -ports, where they were regularly trained to
the different methods of ship-fighting, and to those various manoeuvres of a
vessel, in which numbers were necessary. Being thus locally placed, their
value was early felt by their exertions in equipping the squadrons fitted
out, when but little confidence could be placed in the sailor, recently
impressed into the service.

The first authentic instance of any regiment of this description appears in
the Army List of 1684, and from the return of the general review on
Putney Heath, upon the 1st October in that yean It was then styled,
" The Lord High Admiral of England, H. R. H. the Duke of York and
Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot," commanded by the Hon. Sir
Charles Littleton, and called also the Admiral Regiment. It consisted of
twelve companies, without any grenadiers, had yellow coats lined with
red, and their colours were a red cross, with rays of the sun issuing from
each of its angles.

Many revolving years had witnessed the distinguished gallantry, and un-
impaired loyalty of the corps of marines ; the records of a British legisla-
ture had long teemed with grateful memorials of their merits upon the
shores, and the ocean of every clime, but w'rth scarcely one solid mark of
recompenee for all their brilliant services. It was reserved for the year
1802, and the ministerial auspices of Earl St. Vincent, to draw this body
of faithful soldiers into a close alliance with a family and a throne, for
whom they had so often bled, and round which they wilt no doubt rally
to the latest period of their existence. The title of Royal was aot the ar-

i 2

116 POST- CAPTAIN* OF 1798.

Parry, with whom he served as a Midshipman, on board the
Lynx, Lizard, and Actaeon, in the West Indies and British
Channel. He subsequently joined the Vigilant of 64 guns,
commanded by the late Admiral Sir Robert Kingsmill, Bart,
which ship formed part of Admiral Keppel's fleet, and was
warmly engaged in the action with M. d'Orvilliers off Ushant,

July 27, 1778.

Mr. Hollis's promotion to a Lieutenancy took place Jan.
22, 1781 j and from that period until July 27, 1793, we find
him serving successively in the Seaford of 24 guns, Pegase
74, Narcissus 24, and Andromeda frigate, under the Cap-
tains Christian, Roberts, Marshall, Bligh, and Salisbury. At
the latter period he was removed by Rear-Admiral Alan

quirement of influence. No ! it was the reward for more than 100 years
of undiminished zeal ; a monarch's tributary sacrifice at the altar of honor !
The following are the terms in which it was conveyed to Lieutenant-Gene-
ral Souter Johnstone, Commandant in Chief, on the day of a grand pro-
motion in the navy :

" Admiralty-Office, April 29, 1802.

" Sir — The Earl of St. Vincent having signified to my Lords Commis-
sioners .of the Admiralty, that his Majesty, in order to mark his royal ap-
probation of .the very meritorious .conduct of the corps of Marines, during
the late war, has been graciously pleased to direct, that, in future, the
corps shall be styled ' The Royal Marines.*

" I have great satisfaction in obeying their Lordship's commands to
communicate this intelligence to you ; and in offering their Lordships'
congratulations on this testimony of the opinion his Majesty entertains of
the very distinguished services of that part of his forces to which you be-
long. I am, Sir, &c. &c.

(Signed) " EVAN NEPBAN."

" Lieut.-^Gen. Souter Johnstone,
Commandant of the Marines."

The Royal Marines have lately been clothed in a manner similar to the
guards. They are under the immediate control of the Admiralty, and no-
minally commanded by three general officers, and four colonels belonging
to the sea-service — these are at present H. R. H. the Duke of Clarence,
General; Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, Lieutenant-General ; Vice- Ad-
miral Sir George Cockburn, Major-General; and Captains Hollis, Sir E.
W. C. R. Owen, George Scott, and Sir T. M. Hardy, Colonels.

The Royal Marine officers themselves never rise beyond the rank of
colonel commandant in their own corps ; but they attain the rank of ge-
neral officer in the army. No commissions are bought or soW, but each
officer rises according to his seniority. For further particular! see Vol. I
not* f at p. 132.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798. 117

Gardner into his flag ship, the Queen, a second rate, then on
the West India station, but soon afterwards attached to the
Channel fleet under the orders of Earl Howe.

Early in 1794, the French fitted out a powerful fleet, man-
ned with the flower of their marine, and commanded by an
officer of acknowledged bravery and long experience. On
board the Admiral's ship were two Commissioners, delegated
by the National Convention to animate by their presence the
operations of the armament, and inspire the seamen with a
more than ordinary portion of hostility against the British
nation ; but the intentions of the enemy, in spite of all their
measures, and the bravery, bordering on desperation, with
which they fought, were, happily for the safety of England,
averted by the splendid victory gained by Earl Howe on the
memorable 1st of June. The conduct of the Queen on that
never to be forgotten occasion, and in the preceding battle of
May 29, is thus described by a contemporary writer :

" Of the twelve or fourteen ships that had the good fortune to be en-
gaged (May 29), the Queen, Royal George, and Royal Sovereign, were
those only whose casualties were of serious consequence *. Such were
the exertions on board the first-named ship of the three, that, before dark,
new sails were bent fore and aft ; a main-top-sail-yard had been got up for a
fore-yard, a fore-top-gallant-mast for a mizen-top-mast, and a fore-top-
gallant-yard for a mizen-top-sail-yard ; and the Queen was reported again
ready for service." See James's Nav. Hist. Part I. Pol. I. p. 201.

" The Queen, in bearing down to engage, (June 1,) having suffered con-
siderably in her sails and rigging, was unable to get abreast of her proper
opponent, the Northumberland ; who, with her fore and main tacks
down, was running fast a-head. She therefore closed with the seventh
French ship, the Scipion. This ship also made sail a-head, and then ran
to leeward ; but the Queen kept close upon her starboard quarter, and an-
noyed her much. The Scipion, having had her colours twice shot away,
re-hoisted them at the mizen-top-gallant-mast-head. At three quarters
past ten, her mizen-mast came by the board. At eleven, the Queen's main-
mast went over the lee-side, springing, in its fall, the mizen-mast, and
carrying away the fore part of the poop, and the barricade of the quarter-
deck. In another quarter of an hour, the main-mast of the Scipion came
down ;and, almost immediately afterwards, her fore-mast. By this time the
Queen had fallen round off; and the Scipion's crew, having been driven from
their quarters with great slaughter, came upon deck, and waved submission
with their hats. But the Queen was in too disabled a state to take possession

* Queen, mizen-top-mast and fore-yard shot away ; main-mast, bow-
sprit, and fore- top-mast shot through, 22 men killed, and 27 wounded.

118 HOST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

HIM mi/cii-top mast bad been shot away since the fall of her main-mast ;
tier fore-mast and bowsprit had beeu shot through in several places ; and
her mizeu-mast, from its wounds, was expected every instant to fell. Her
rigging had been cut to pieces, and her sails all rendered useless.

" After about an hour's exertions hi repairing sotne ef the principal
damages, the Queen had got ker head-toA'ards her own fleet, and was stem-
Ming along to teevvard of it ; when, at about half-past twelve, she disco-
vered through the smoko, twelve sail of French ships standing towards her.
The leading ship, the Montagne, passed without firing, and so did her
second astern ; but the third ship opened her fire, as did also every one of
the remainder ; the last of ythich was the Terrible, with only her fore-
mast standing. The latter was towed into the line by three frigates ; two
of -which cast off and hauled to windward, to engage the Queen. The lat-
Ifer, however, soon convinced them that her guns were not so disabled as
her masts : and the two frigates put up their helms and ran to leeward,
without returning a shot. The appearance of the Charlotte and the line
a-stern of her, had caused the Montagne and her line to keep more away
than was at first intended ; and hence the Queen suffered but little from the
distant cannonade she had been exposed to. The French line, on coming
abreast of: the Queen's late antagonist, the Scipioa, towed her off, as well
as two other dismasted 2-deckers, lying close to her. The damages which
the Queen had sustained have already appeared : her loss amounted this
dwy, to 14 seamen and marines or soldiers, killed ; her second, sixth, and
an acting Lieutenant, one midshipman, and 36 seamen and marines or
soldiers, wounded." See id. p. 237, et seg.

The total number of killed and wounded on board the
Queen, in the two actions, as stated in the London Gazette>
agrees with the foregoing statements, but in the list of
^pwftded presents us with the name of Captain Hutt, who
kJst a leg, and died a few days after his arrival at Ports-
mouth *..

Among those who were seriously hurt in the conflict of
June 1, but whose names were not reported as such, was
Lieutenant Hollis, who received a severe contusion in the
head by a splinter. The other officers of his rank wounded
were Messrs. Dawes, Lawrie,and Crimes, the former mortally,
On the 28d June in the ensuing year, the Queen formed part
of Lord Bridport's fleet in the affair oflTOrient, on which oc-
casion three French ships of the line were captured, as already
stated under the head of Sir William Domett, in our first
volume.

Some time after this event Lieutenant Hollis accompanied.

• See Vol. I. note at p. 614.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 119

Vice-Admiral Sir Alan Gardner into the Royal Sovereign, a
first rafce j and he continued to serve with that highly distin-
guished officer till Nov. 1, 1796, on which day he was pro-
moted to the rank of Commander in the Chichester, a 44-gun
ship, armed en flute y intended to form part of a squadron
about to be placed under the orders of Lord Hugh, Seymour,
for the reduction of the Manillas.

On the 10th Nov. 1797> Captain Hollis, being at the Cape
of Good Hope, received an order from Rear- Admiral Pringle,
commander-in-chief on that station, to assume the temporary
command of the Jupiter, (her Captain, the present Vice-Ad-
miral Losack, being absent on a court-martial,) and proceed
with that ship to the advanced anchorage of Robin island,
Where the Crescent frigate was then lying in a state of mutiny,
and whose crew he was directed to reduce to immediate obe-
dience. The Crescent wasmetby the Jupiter coming into Table
Bay, towed under the batteries, her ringleaders secured,
brought to trial, and punished. On the 16th of the same
month Captain Hollis was posted into the Tremendous 74,
bearing the Rear-Admirars flag j and a few weeks after ap-
pointed to the Vindictive, a small frigate, in which he was or-
dered home as convoy to a large fleet of East Indiamen.

On his arrival in England, the Hon. Court of Directors of
the East India Company presented Captain Hollis with a va-
luable piece of plate. His advancement to post rank was
confirmed by the Admiralty Feb. 5, 1798 ; and the Vindictive,
owing to her bad condition, was paid off May 4th following.
From this latter date We find no mention of our officer until
June 8th, 1801, when he obtained the command of the
Thames, a 32-gun frigate, in which he performed a most es-
sential service on the 13th of the following month, by heaving
off from the shoals of Conil, and with great exertions towing
into Gibraltar the Venerable 74, commanded by the late gallant
Sir Samuel Hood, who, when eagerly pursuing the French
ship Formidable, forming part of the combined squadrons at-
tacked by Sir James Saumarez in the Gut on the preceding
night, had unfortunately grounded, and lost all his masts *.

Sir James Saumarez, in his official despatch relative to the

* See Vol. I. p. 191 ; and at p. 187, line 9 from the bottom, for Wi{-
ilum Lttftft substitute Aithe vt Pa/arti Hellit.

120 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

above action, makes particular mention of Captain Hollis ; and
the commander of the Venerable, when writing to the Rear-
Admiral, three days after the action says, " it was only by
the great exertion of the Thames, with the boats you sent
me, the Venerable was saved, after being on shore some

time"

Shortly after this event, Captain Hollis, in company with
the Hon. Captain Dundas of the Calpe sloop of war, destroyed
a number of the enemy's coasters in the bay of Estapona j
and on the 21st Sept. following, the boats of the Thames
boarded and carried a Spanish privateer, carrying 2 four-
pounders, 2 brass swivels, and 31 men. From this period
Captain Hollis was employed on the coast of Egypt, and va-
rious other services in the Mediterranean, until the peace of
Amiens, when he returned to England. The Thames was
paid off Jan. 15,1803.

In the ensuing autumn, our officer commissioned the Mer-
maid of 32 guns j and after cruising for some time in the
Channel, escorted a fleet of merchantmen to the West Indies.
In Oct. 1804, he was sent by Sir John T. Duckworth, the
command er-in-chief at Jamaica, to reconnoitre the harbour
and arsenal of the Havannah ; and on the 16th of the follow-
ing month, whilst lying there and preparing to entertain the
Spanish officers at that place, he received information which
induced him to believe hostilities with Spain were about to
commence in Europe, and that it was most probable the
government of Cuba were already in possession of similar in-
formation. In this situation, prompt measures only could
save the Mermaid from detention, and he immediately deter-
mined to cut and run out with the land breeze ; but to his
mortification the night was perfectly calm. The ship, how-
ever, was unmoored without causing any alarm, and at day-
break, whilst the public authorities were deliberating on the
propriety of detaining her, she warped out clear of the bat-
teries.

There being at this time some valuable English merchant
vessels in the Havannah, Captain Hollis lost no time in ap-
prising them of their situation, and rendering them every
assistance in his power to avoid the threatened danger. The
Mermaid remained off the port three or four days, and in that

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 121

time her boats brought out several vessels which she after-
wards convoyed through the Gulf; and thus was saved, through
the promptitude and exertions of Captain Hollis, property to
a considerable amount, which would otherwise have been
confiscated *,

The Mermaid was subsequently employed blockading some
French ships in the Chesapeake, and affording protection to
the British trade between Nova Scotia and the West Indies ;
but being at length found defective, was ordered to England
with a homeward bound fleet, and on the 20th Aug. 1807>
put out of commission.

Captain Hollis's next appointment was, March 16, 1809,
to the Standard 64, forming part of the Baltic fleet under Sir
James Saumarez, by whom he was entrusted with the com-
mand of a small squadron sent to reduce the Danish island of
Anholt ; which service was most ably effected by a strong
detachment of seamen and marines landed with their respec-
tive officers, under the cover of the ships composing the
squadron f. The garrison, consisting of 170 men, surren-
dered at discretion. On our side only 1 man was killed
and 2 wounded.

This island, although of no. intrinsic value, proved of great
importance to the British, as from its situation near the en-
trances of the Baltic sea, and the refuge it afforded to the
enemy's gun-boats and privateers, the safety of our valuable
East country trade could never be relied on whilst it remained
in the possession of Denmark. The utility of its capture may
be inferred from the circumstance of Captain Hollis having
afterwards passed through the Belt, at different times, with
upwards of two thousand sail under his protection, going to
and returning from the Baltic.

Early in 1811, the Standard was ordered to convoy a fleet

* A few days after the performance of the above-important service,
certain intelligence was received in the West Indies of a British squadron
having attacked four Spanish frigates laden with treasure, of which three
were captured and one blown up, on the 5th of the preceding month,
just six weeks prior to Captain Hollis's departure from the Havannah.
See Vol. I, p. 536.

f Standard 64, Captain Hollis ; Owen Glendower frigate, Captain
Selby; Ranger, Rose, and Avenger sloops, Captains Acklom, Mansel,
and White ; and Snipe gun-brig, Lieutenant Champion.

122 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

of merchantmen to Lisbon and Cadiz, and to join the squa-
dron employed in the defence of the latter place, at that time
invested by a division of the French army. On the 16th
April, in the same year, he was removed into the Achille of
80 guns, and attached to the fleet blockading Toulon. He
subsequently visited Malta, from thence went to the pro-
tection of Sicily, and was ultimately ordered to the Adri-
atic, where he continued about eighteen months, during
which time he was employed blockading the French and
Venetian squadrons at Venice, consisting of three line-of-bat-
tle ships and a frigate ready for sea, and several of each class
fitting in the arsenal. The Achille being in want of repair,
was obliged to return to England in the summer of 1813, on
which occasion Captain Hollis escorted home the Mediter-
rancan trade.

After refitting his ship, and commanding the blockade of
Cherbourgh far some time, our officer, in the month of May
1814, wae ordered to take charge of some outward bound
East India ships, and other vessels bound round Cape Horn,
which he saw in safety to a certain latitude ; when he detached
them to their different destinations, and proceeded himself to
reinforce Vice Admiral Dixon at Rio Janeiro. On bis return
from South America, in company with the squadron, in the
autumn of 1815, the Achille was put out of commission, and
he remained on half-pay until Sept. 17, 1816, when he ob-
tained the command of the Ilivoli 74, stationed at Portsmouth,
in which ship he continued till Feb. 18, 1817, when she was
also paid off, in consequence of a farther reduction of the
naval force taking place at that period. On the llth Sept.
1818, he commissioned the Ramillies, another third rate,
which he commanded nearly three years, occasionally hoist-
hig a broad pendant as senior officer at Portsmouth, during
the occasional absence, and after the demise, of Sir George
Campbell, the commander-in-chief on that station, in 1819
and 1820, when his present Majesty visited Portsmouth,
Captain Hollis had the honor of dining with his royal master,
on the day of whose coronation he was nominated to one of
the vacant Colonelcies of Royal Marines.

Otir officer's youngest sister is married to Captain George
M'Kmley, of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich.

Agent. — John Chippendale, Esq.

POST-CAPTAfNS OF 1/98. 123

SIR HENRY HEATHCOTE, KNT.

THIS officer, a younger son of Sir William Heathcote, Baft.,
of Hursley in Hampshire, and formerly M. P. for that
county, by Frances, daughter and co-heiress of John Thorpe,
of Embley, Hants., Esq., is descended from Samuel, third
son of Gilbert Heathcote, of Chesterfield, co. Derby, Esq.
who in the early part of his life went to Dantzic, where he
acquired a considerable fortune with an unsullied character.
He returned to England, and enjoyed the esteem of all who
knew him, being a man of uncommon understanding, great
commercial knowledge, and unquestionable integrity : he had
the honor of being the intimate friend of the celebrated John
Locke, who consulted with, and had much valuable assist-
ance from him, in that useful undertaking, the regulation of
the coin of Great Britain, as well as in several other public

affairs.

•

Ml-. Henry Heathcote was born in 1777; and early in the
French revolutionary war, we find him serving as a Midship-
man on board the Proserpine frigate, in the West Indies. He
commanded the Alliance store-ship, on the Mediterranean
station, in 1797 5 obtained post-rank, Feb. 5, 1798 ; and, in
the course of the same year, brought home the Romulus of
36 guns. From this period we lose sight of him, until the
renewal of hostilities in 1803, when he was appointed to the
Galatea frigate. In Feb., 1804, he escorted a fleet of mer-
chantmen to the West Indies ; and on the 14th Aug. fol-
lowing, made an unsuccessful attempt to cut out the General
Ernouf, a French privateer, formerly the British sloop of war
Lilly, lying at the Saintes near Guadaloupe, The party sent
on this enterprise, consisted of about 90 officers and men, no
less than 65 of whom were either killed or wounded, includ-
ing among the former their gallant leader, Mr. Charles Hay-
man, first Lieutenant of the Galatea.

Captain Heathcote was subsequently appointed in succes-
sion to la Desrree frigate, and the Lion of 64 guns. On the
30th Aug., 1811, he was tried by a court-martial at Batavia,
for a breach of the 27th article of war *, and for disobedience

* No person shall sleep upon his watch, o'r negligently perform his
duty, or forsake his station, upon pain of death, or such punishment as a
court-martial shall think fit to inflict.

124 POrfT-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

of orders given by the late Vice- Admiral Drury *, and sub-
sequently confirmed by Commodore Broughton ; also,, for
neglecting his duty, in not attending to the request of the
Bombay government, to afford convoy to the China fleet.
It appears, by Vice-Admiral Drury's orders, that Captain
Heathcote was directed to take charge of the western coasts
and ports of India, from Cape Comorin to the bottom of the
Persian Gulph, acting according to circumstances, for the
preservation of the trade, and the general good of his Ma^
jesty's service. Whilst Captain Heathcote was at Bombay,
in June 1811, the Hussar frigate arrived there from England
with despatches. Captain Heathcote, knowing the impossi-
bility of his receiving any orders from Commodore Brough-
ton, (who was then on his passage to Java,) that might arise
out of these despatches, in less than three months, antici-
pating the detriment that might accrue to the service from
his ignorance of them, and the peculiar nature of the opera-
tions then going on against Java ; he, from these considera-
tions, opened the despatches, that he might issue the neces-
sary instructions to all whom they might concern, and act in
conformity thereto himself, should circumstances require it.
The despatches disclosed the belief, that eighteen French fri-
gates and from 3 to 4,000 French troops, might reasonably be
expected to be on their way to Java, for the purpose of defeat-
ing any attack on that settlement ; and that they might arrive
there before Commodore Broughton. Further, the des-
patches earnestly expressed to the commander-in-chief in
India, the conviction of the Lords of the Admiralty of the
great importance of the conquest of Java, to the country at
large; and particularly to the interests of the Hon. East
India Company, whose trade would, unless the kingdom
maintained a very large, and consequently expensive force in
India, be in a fair way of annihilation, by the enemy retaining
possession of that island, and commanding the eastern straits,
which, as their Lordships observed, are the key of the China
sea, whence the Hon. Company derive their most lucrative
resources. Captain Heathcote, upon possessing himself of
this information, instantly proceeded for Java, to put Com-
modore Broughton in possession of the despatches; who,
• Vice-Admiral William O'Bryen Drury died at Madras,.March 6, 181 L

POST- C APTAINS X>F 1798. 125

thereupon, being dissatisfied with Captain Heathcote's pro-
ceedings, requested Rear-Admiral Stopford would cause an
enquiry to be made into his conduct. The Court, having
heard what Captain Heathcote had to offer in justification of
his conduct, agreed, that the two first charges were proved ;
but that in consideration of the motives, which led him to
deviate from the orders he had received, and which appeared
to have arisen from a zeal for the good of his Majesty's ser-
vice, they deemed them of such a nature as to justify his
conduct in the present instance. The charge of not afford-
ing convoy to the China ships, was not proved ; and the
Court did therefore adjudge Captain Heathcote to be acquit-
ed. We regret that our limits will not allow us to present
OUT readers with the excellent defence made by Captain
Heathcote. It will be found at length in the Nav. Chron.
vol. 27, p. 492, et seg*

In the following year, Captain Heathcote was appointed to
the Scipion, of 74 guns, which ship he commanded on the
Mediterranean station, at the close of the war. He received
the honor of knighthood, July 20, 1819. His brother Gilbert
is a Captain, and one of his sons a Midshipman, R. N.

Agent. — J. Copland, Esq.

ANDREW FITZHERBERT EVANS, ESQ.
THIS officer was made a Lieutenant, Dec. 1, 1787 ; and
on the 4th May, 1796, when commanding the Spencer sloop
of war, captured, after a brisk action off Bermuda, la Volcan,
a French corvette of 12 guns, pierced for 16, and 95 men.
His post commission bears date April 15, 1798 ; and from that
period until the peace of 1801, he commanded the Porcupine
of 24 guns, on the Hah" fax and Jamaica stations. We sub-
sequently find him in the ^Eolus frigate, and Vanguard 74,
employed in the blockade of St. Domingo, and various other
services. Towards the close of 1810, he was removed from
the superintendence of the Stapleton depot for prisoners of
war, to be a resident Commissioner of the Navy at Bermuda,
where he had a broad pendant flying on board the Ruby 64,
in 1816 and 1817.

Agent. — John Chippendale, Esq.

126 POST-CAPTAINS o» 1/98.

SIR EDWARD WILLIAM CAMPBELL RICH

OWEN,

Knight Commander of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath;

Commodore, and Commander-in-Chief on the West India station.

THIS officer is the son of a Captain, R. N., who lost an
arm in the service of his country. We truly regret that the
Commodore's absence on a foreign station prevents us from
applying for the necessary memoramla, wherewith to frame a
correct memoir of so distinguished an officer : we shall, how-
ever, endeavour to do justice to his merits, at least as far as
the materials in our possession will enable us.

He was educated at Chelsea ; made a Lieutenant in 1793 ;
and advanced to the rank of Post- Captain, April 23, 1798.
In the course of the same year, if we mistake not, he com-
manded the Northumberland 74, in the Chanael and Medi-
terranean ; and in 1801, the Nemesis of 28 guns, on the North
Sea station. His next appointment wa& ta I'lmmortalite fri-
gate, about May, 1802 ; and, soon after the renewal of the
war, we find that ship, in company with the Julousc and
Cruiser sloops of war, driving le Commode and 1'Inabordable,
a French brig and schooner, each mounting 4 guns, on shore
near Cape Blanc Nez, where they were taken possession of
by the boats of the squadron, under a heavy fire from the
enemy's batteries.

The only operation of any consequence, at all connected
with the navy, that occurred on the home station during the
year 1803, was the bombardment of Granville, Dieppe, and
St. Valery en Caux ; the two latter places, by a small force
under the orders of Captain Owen, hut without any material
effect. There was, however, not the slightest blame to be
attributed to any person engaged ; on the contrary, it evinced
the spirit of the officers and men of the British ships, and
drew forth applause and approbation on their respective
commanders. The following is a copy of Captain Owen's
report to Lord Keith, dated Sept. 14.

" In obedience to the orders of Rear-Admiral Montagu, I, at eight

o'clock this morning, in company with the Perseus and Explosion bombs,

commenced an attack on the batteries which protect the town of Dieppe,

and vessels building there, in number seventeen.

" The firing was continued on both sides till past eleven, when the lee-

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1793.

tide making strong, and the town having taken fire badly in one place, and
slightly in two others, I caused the bombs to weigh, and proceeded with
them off St. Valery en Caux, where they are constructing six vessels ; and
nt 3 P. M. opened our fire on that place for an hour. The enemy was for
the most part driven from their batteries, the inhabitants flying to the
country, and judging from the direction in which many of the shells burst,
they must have suffered much.

" On a service of this nature, we eaquot expect to escape unhurt : I have,
however, pleasure in reporting, that, although the enemy's fire, espe-
cially from Dieppe, which is very strong in batteries, was heavy and well-
directed, and many of their shot took effect, our loss has been but small.
The Perseus has one man missing, and the serjeant of artillery is wounded.
The boatswain of this ship and three seamen were bruised by splinters, but
did not leave their quarters : the other damage, but that not material, is
confined chiefly to the rigging.

« The manner of executing my instructions, and the judgment shewn in
placing and managing the bomb-vessels, entitle Captains Methuist and Paul
to my best and warmest thanks; their conduct has been every thing I
could wish : and they speak highly of the officers and detachments of the
royal artillery embarked with them, as well as of the officers and men of
their respective crews. My opinion of the first Lieutenant of this ship,
C. F. Payne, is already known to your Lordship j and his conduct this day,
as well as that of the other Lieutenants, officers, and men, without excep-
tion, has fully justified the reports I hare made to your Lordship concern-
ing them on former occasions."

From this period, Captain Owen kept the French coast in
a continual state of alarm j and 1'Immortalite was well
known to the inhabitants for the daring manner in which, in
spite of banks and batteries, she approached their shores.
The next official report we find of his proceedings, was made
to Rear-Admiral Louis, July 20, 1804, and couched in the
following terms : —

" The wind yesterday set in strong from the N. E. by N., and made so
much sea that the enemy's vessels hi the road of Boulogne became very un-
easy ; and about 8 P. M. the leewardmost brigs began to get under weigh,
and work to windward ; whilst some of the luggers ran down apparently
for Staples : their force was then forty-five brigs and forty-three luggers.
I made a signal to look out. OB these vessels, which was immediately
ol>eyed by the Harpy, Bloodhound, and Archer, who closed with them,
giving their fire to such as attempted to stand off from the land. The
Autumn was at this time getting under weigh, and lost no time in giving
her suppoF t to the vessels- already on this service, and continued1 with them
during the whole weather tide, firing from time to time on such of the
enemy's vessels as gave them opportunity. At day-light thiki morning,
there were nineteen brigs ajud eight luggers only remaining in the bay ; and
about six o'clock these began to slip single, and run to the southward for

128 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

Etaples, or the river Soraine, the Autumn and brigs being then too far to
leeward to give them any interruption. As soon as the tide permitted
this ship and the Leda to weigh, we stood in for Boulogne, when I per-
ceived that a brig, a lugger, and several large boats, were stranded on the
beach west of the harbour : the enemy were shipping and endeavouring to
save from them what they could, but I have not a doubt the running tide
would complete their destruction. Three other brigs and a lugger were on
the rocks near the village of Porte"e, totally destroyed. A brig and two
luggers remained at anchor close to the rocks, with wafts up, and the people
huddled together abaft; the brig had lost her top-masts and lower yards,
and one of the luggers the head of her main-mast ; the sea was making a
perfect breach over them, and if the gale continues her situation is hope-
less.

" The merits of Captains Jackson and Heywood, as well as those of
Lieutenants Richardson and Price, are so well known to you, that I need
only say, they acted with the same decisive promptness they have always
shewn ; and though the night prevented my seeing all that passed, there
cannot be a doubt but their well-timed attack caused the enemy's confusion,
and occasioned much of their loss, which, taking every circumstance into
consideration, is I doubt not, far beyond what fell within our observation.
I have not yet been able to collect the reports of these officers, but will
forward them the moment they join me."

In the French version of this affair,, no mention is made of
the presence of the British. All is ascribed to the fury of the
gale, which did, indeed, play havoc among the enemy's flotilla.
The exact number of gun-vessels that foundered, or were
stranded, is not stated j but the account admits, that upwards
of 400 soldiers went down in the former, and that a great many
perished with the latter. Napoleon Buonaparte was a spec-
tator of the scene, and, if we are to credit the French writers,
evinced much sensibility on the occasion. He, no doubt,
was taught a lesson by the disaster : seeing that the British
cruisers were not all he had to fear, in his attempt to invade
Great Britain.

Boulogne being the head-quarters of the grand armament
preparing for that purpose, occupied a due share of our at-
tention. The British squadron that cruised off that place in
August, 1804, was under the orders of Rear-Admiral Louis,
whose flag was flying on board the Leopard of 50 guns.
The main body usually lay at anchor, in fifteen fathoms water,
about ten miles N. W. of the port ; and a division of five or
six vessels, commanded by Captain Owen, generally cruised
just out of the range of the enemy's shells, which were fired

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1J98. 129

from mortars brought down to the beach during the ebbing of
the tide. On the 25th of that month, an unusual degree of
bustle prevailed in the road of Boulogne, which then con-
tained no less than one hundred and forty- six armed vessels
of different descriptions. At lh 45' P. M. a division of this
flotilla got under weigh, and worked up towards Pointe Bombe,
where the Cruiser, an 18-gun brig, lay at anchor. This
was probably done to amuse Buonaparte, who nine days
previously, had presided at the grand ceremony of distributing
to his troops encamped at Boulogne and Montreuil, the cross
of the Legion of Honor. In a short time a firing commenced
between the parties, and soon brought Captain Owen to the
spot ; who, at about 2h 30' opened his broadside at the gun-
vessels, and received in return a heavy fire from the batteries
on the edge of the cliff. One shot only struck the Immorta-
lite, and did no great injury. It now became necessary to .
haul further from the shore ; and having done so, he hove-to
about three miles in the offing. On the following day, a se-
cond division of gun and mortar- vessels weighed, and, joining
their friends between Vimereux and Ambleteuse, formed a
total of sixty brigs and more than thirty luggers. Napoleon
himself, it appears, was at this time in the road in his barge,
attended by two of his Generals and Admiral Bruix. At 4
P. M., the Immortalite, Harpy sloop of war, Adder gun-brig,
and Constitution cutter, made sail towards the flotilla, and in
a quarter of an hour afterwards opened their fire ; but the
gun-vessels kept near the shore, purposely to draw the British
within reach of the land batteries. There was no withstand-
ing the temptation ; and Captain Owen, with his three com-
panions, tacked and stood in, within three quarters of a mile
of the batteries, which kept up an incessant fire. As if that
were not enough to preserve the gun- vessels from capture,
the greater part of those in the road weighed and proceeded
to their assistance. At about 5 o'clock, a shell fell into and
sunk the Constitution, but without injuring the crew, all of
whom were picked up by the boats of their friends. This
little vessel had been setting a noble example, both by the
boldness of her advance and the skilful manner in which she
plied her small artillery. A shell also fell on board the Har-
py, and killed one of her crew, but did not explode. The Im-

VOL. II. K

130 POST-CAPTAINS OF

mortalite was twice struck by shot in the hull, and had 4
men slightly wounded. The British squadron now hauled off,
whilst some of the French vessels were compelled to run on
shore on account of the shot-holes in their hulls ; and the re-
mainder bore up for the road of Boulogne. On the two suc-
ceeding days some slight skirmishes took place, but nothing
decisive could be effected on account of the batteries ; nor was
any injury done to Captain Owen's division, beyond a wound
in the Cruiser's bowsprit.

We have dwelt thus long on events which to some of our
readers may appear too trivial to require so minute a detail ;
but let it be remembered, that they had the salutary effect of
teaching the French despot what the gales of the British
Channel, and our cruisers, would do with his flotilla, if it fell
in the way of either.

On the 23d Oct. following, Captain Owen being off Cape
Grisnez, about 3h 30' P. M. discovered three praams, seven
brigs, and fifteen luggers, which soon after bore up to the west-
•ward, keeping close to the beach, under cover of their bat-
teries, and accompanied by horse artillery, making the best
of their way to shelter themselves within the Bane de Laine.
By making all sail to windward he was enabled to close the
praams about a quarter before five, and to open his fire upon
them within the distance of grape-shot, under the high land
of Cape Blanc Nez, the Orestes sloop and Basilisk gun-brig
joining in the attack, the enemy still pushing to the westward,
and returning at first a brisk fire, but it latterly slackened
much. This running fight continued till near six o'clock,
when, having been thrice obliged to sheer out into deeper wa-
ter, Captain Owen found himself still within the end of the
Bane de Laine, where the falling tide prevented him from foj-
lowing them, and obliged him to haul off, with the loss of 1
man slain, and a Lieutenant and 10 men wounded, 3 of whom
died soon after. Captain Owen, in his letter to the Rear- Ad-
miral, says, " from the manner in which our grape-shot co-
vered the enemy's vessels, their loss in men must have been
very great — I never saw guns pointed better, or so coolly."
Early in the ensuing year the Immortalite captured El Entre-
preda Conine, a Spanish privateer, of 14 guns and 66 men.
The following letter, which never appeared in the London

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798. 131

Gazette, records the particulars of an action with a part of
the Boulogne flotilla on the 18th July 1805.

" Sir, — In consequence of the information brought me by the Bruizer,
which I had the honor to communicate to you this morning, I moved, with
the detachment under my orders, to windward of Cape Gregory, in readi-
ness for attacking the enemy's vessels, should they give opportunity, by
pursuing their course towards Boulogne.

" About half past three I perceived their flotilla steering along shore : our
Calais squadron was then standing for them, and opened their fire about
4h 30' P. M. abreast of Cape Blanc Nez. The force of the enemy con-
sisted of three praam ships under French, and twenty-two large schooners
under Dutch colours. These latter had drawn themselves into a line, and
were about half-a-mile a-hcad of the praams. I therefore made a signal
for the brigs of my detachment to attack this part of their force, which
was done about five o'clock, most handsomely, by the Watchful, Pincher,
Sparkler, and Arab ; Captain Maxwell of the latter pushing in-shore with
the brigs, whilst he found water barely sufficient to keep his ship afloat.
They were also joined by the Jackall, and two other brigs of the Calais
squadron, whose names I do not know, which were previously engaged
\vith them ; and the other brigs of my detachment pushed in as they came
up from to leeward.

"The junction of the Calais squadron fibout this time brought our ships,
of which a great number had collected, very close together; and as we had
already a force fully sufficient engaged with the enemy, I hauled out,
making the signal for open order, and calling off the Hebe, Utile, and Di-
Kgence; at the same time directing the brigs to chase and engage the
enemy close. In consequence of this signal, the Arab and gun-brigs
pressed close upon the enemy's schooners. In passing Cape Grisnez,
three of them had already grounded, and struck on the Bane de Laine.
Two others ran ashore between Cape Grisnez and St. John, to keep them-
selves from sinking ; and several others seemed cut up in their rigging, and
thrown into great confusion.

" The three praams having at length cleared the channel, were passing
within the Bane. I stood for them, and at half-past six brought them to a
tolerable close action, which continued with some little intermission, occa-
sioned by the difficulty of keeping a-stern with them, till half-past seven,
when we were abreast of Ambleteuse, where the praams anchored with
the schooners already arrived. We were followed in this attack by the
Hebe and Diligence, who availed themselves of every opportunity to join
in h. I cannot particularize the number of ships which joined and occa-
sionally fired upon the enemy ; but the commander of that squadron will
of course make his report to Vice-Admiral Holloway.

" Of the detachment under me, I feel it my duty to report my most per-
fect satisfaction : all were anxious and eager to seize every opportunity
which presented itself for closing with the enemy. The situation of Cap-
tain Maxwell of the Arab, and Lieutenants Marshall and Aberdour, of the

K 2

132 POST-CAPTAINS OK 1/98.

Watchful and Pincher, enabled them to do this most conspicuously ; and
I am sure with the greatest effect. Nothing could excel the Arab, whose
draught of water made her closing with thetn still more difficult.

" Of the conduct of Lieutenant Marshall on former occasions I have had
to speak, and you, Sir, know full well the high opinion I had of this most
estimable officer. It was his fate to fall ; and no one could fall more ad-
iuired, or more regretted. I can say nothing which will do justice to my
feeling of his merit; his vessel was still conducted well by the Sub-
Lieutenant.

" My own ship's company and officers acted fully up to every good opi-
nion I had formed of them ; they were cool and steady. I have so fre-
quently spoken of Lieutenant Payne's merits, that it is needless to say
more than that I had his assistance : he and every officer was what I have
always found them. Mr. Taper, the Master, merits my warmest approba-
tion, for the coolness and steadiness with which he directed the ship's
course along shore.

" Of the enemy's loss in such an action it is impossible to judge ; but
from the direction of the shot, and every thing of which I could form a
supposition, it must have been very great. I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your most obedient humble Servant,

(Signed) " E. W. C. R. OWEN."
" To Billy Douglas, Esq.

Rear-admiral of the White."

The Immortalite on this occasion had her fore-mast, main-
top-mast, spanker-boom, and three boats shot through ; her
rigging and sails much cut ; her hull struck in several places ;
two carronades disabled ; 4 men killed and 12 wounded, se-
veral of them severely. The damages sustained by her con-
sorts, will be noticed in the memoirs of their respective com-
manders or senior surviving officers.

The decisive trial that was intended to have been made of
Mr. Congreve's rockets, in Nov. 1805, having been thwarted
by the too advanced season of the year, the ensuing winter
was employed in preparations for returning to the charge in
the spring : but this attempt was almost as ill-fated as the
first. No sooner was all in readiness at the proper season,
than negociations for peace were act on foot, and the passage
of our Plenipotentiary was counted a sufficient reason for ta-
citly suspending hostilities against Boulogne, and the sum-
mer of 1806 was consequently consumed in the journies of
messengers ; till at length, on the 8th Oct., the Earl of Lau-
derdale being then known to have quitted Paris re infecta,
Captain Owen, who had some time before hoisted a broad

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 133

pendant in the Clyde frigate *, was tempted not to lose a fa-
vorable coincidence of wind, weather, and tide, far from
frequent on that station so late in the autumn. Accordingly,
on the evening of that day, boats, armed in an appropriate
manner, took their stations in Boulogne Bay, to the number
of eighteen.

Notwithstanding the want of expertness naturally attend-
ant upon a first apprenticeship, not less than 200 rockets were
discharged in half an hour ; and in about ten minutes the
town appeared on fire : while such was the panic on shore,
that scarcely a shot was returned from the batteries. The
nature and extent of the mischief could never be thoroughly
ascertained : it was reported, however, that some vessels in
the harbour were destroyed ; and it is certain that a consider-
able range of buildings, apparently barracks or store-houses,
were burnt — the fire could not, fr/>m its duration, have been
trifling, having blazed from two A. M. till the evening. The
ruins of eight buildings were discernible from the Clyde ; and
from the extreme jealousy with which Lord Lauderdale and
his retinue were guarded on passing through the town a few
days afterwards, there is reason to believe the ravages were
serious, and more extensive than met the eye on board Com-
modore Owen's squadron f. It was only to be regretted that
the conflagration had not taken effect more to the right,
where the bulk of the flotilla lay : nevertheless, the efficiency
of the weapon, and the vulnerability of Boulogne, were com-
pletely shewn ; since it could not be doubted that what had
destroyed houses of substantial masonry, would have annihi-
lated shipping, crowded together in a dock, had it fallen
amongst them : besides, as the part of the town burnt was

* Broad pendants were first ordered to he worn by officers commanding
squadrons as Commodores, in the year 1674.

t In order to relieve the compunctious visiting-s of such cosmopolite pa-
triots as reserve their philanthropic sympathies for the enemies of their
country, be it known, that the destruction of the town formed no part of
that project, nor was it wantonly attempted : but the precise situation of
the flotilla basin not being visible from the cruising station, owing to the
interposition of rising ground on the western side of the harbour, the
rockets were thrown by guess in the dark, rather too much to the east-
ward.

134 POST-CAFfAINS OF 1798.

more remote from the boats than the basin, the range of the
rockets was also demonstrated beyond a doubt ; and lastly,
the facility of using this weapon in small craft afloat was
satisfactorily proved. The effect produced by it at Copen-
hagen in the following year, produced a general conviction
of its powers.

From this period we find no particular mention of our
officer until the month of August 1809, when he assisted at
the siege of Flushing. The following are extracts from Sir
Richard Strachan's despatches to the Admiralty, announcing
the capture and evacuation of that place :

" St. Domingo, Flushing Roads, Aug. \7th.

** The bombs and gun-vessels, under the direction of Captain Cockburn
of the Belleisle, were moat judiciously placed at the S. E. end of the town j
and to the S. W., Captain Owen of the Clyde, had, with equal skill and
judgment, placed the bomb and other vessels under his orders. I had
much satisfaction in witnessing the fire that was kept up by the squadrons
under the commands of these two officers, and the precision with which
the shells were thrown from the bombs.

" This squadron was led in by the St. Domingo, bearing my flag, and
I was followed by the Blake, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Lord
Gardner ; the other ships advanced in succession. Soon after we had
opened our fire, the wind came more southerly, and the St. Domingo
grounded inside of the Dog Sand. Lord Gardner not knowing our situa-
tion, passed inside of us, by which the Biake also grounded. The other
ships were immediately directed to haul off, and anchor as previously in-
tended.

" After being some time in this situation, during which the enemy's
fire slackened, by the active and zealous exertions of Captain Owen of the
Clyde, who came to our assistance, and anchored close to the St. Do-
mingo, she was got off, and soon after I had the satisfaction of seeing the
Blake also afloat, and come to anchor with the rest of the squadron."

" Blake, in Flushing Roads, Dec. 13, 1809.

" In addition to my despatch of this morning, I have now to transmit a
letter, and an extract of one I have just received from Commodore Owen :
every time I hear from that gallant and animated officer, I have fresh cause
to admire- his conduct.

" I propose, as soon as I have made my final arrangements at Flushing, to
leave this command with Rear- Admiral Otway, and proceed to the Vere
Gat, to communicate with Commodore Owen."

" St. Domingo, in the Downs, Dec. 28.

'* It is with great pleasure I inform you of the arrival of Commodore
Owen iu the Clyde, who gives me the pleasing intelligence of the divisions
under his command and that of Captain Mason, having sailed from the

(

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 135

East and West Scheldt, and are by this time at the mouth of the Thames,
if not at the places .of their respective destination : I enclose the Commo-
dore's report of his proceedings. It is my duty to draw their Lordships'
attention to the excellent conduct of Commodore Owen in the discharge
of the various and arduous duties he had to perform ; and I beg, in the most
earnest manner, to recommend to their Lordships' notice, the zeal, brave-
ry, and perseverance of the captains, officers, and seamen, composing the
flotilla under the Commodore's orders *."

We next find Commodore Owen with his broad pendant on
board the Inconstant frigate, in the Gulf of Mexico, where
that dreadful scourge the yellow fever appears to have carried
off many of his officers and crew, about the month of April
1811. He subsequently commanded the Cornwall of 74 guns,
employed in the North Sea ; and at the close of 1813, distin-
guished himself by his exemplary conduct at the head of the
Royal Marines, landed from the British fleet to co-operate with
the Dutch royalists in the island of South Beveland, which
was soon freed from the presence of their quondam allies.

For some time after the termination of hostilities, our
officer commanded a royal yacht. He was nominated a
K. C. B. Jan. 2, 1815 ; obtained a Colonelcy of Royal Ma-
rines, July 19, 1821 ; and in Nov. 1822, was ordered to hoist
a broad pendant on board the Gloucester of 74 guns, in which
ship he proceeded to the West Indies, where he still conti-
nues. The House of Assembly at Jamaica, has recently
passed a vote of thanks to him for his prompt attention to
the commercial and naval interests, charing the period of his,
command on that station.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

GEORGE JAMES SHIRLEY, ESQ.

THIS officer was a Lieutenant of the Royal George, a first
rate, during the mutiny at Spithead, in 1797 1 5 commanded
the Megafera fire-vessel, in the same year; and was posted into

* Commodore Owen's report, alluded to in the foregoing letter, will be
found at length in the Nav. Chron. v. 23, pp. 78, 79, 82, et seq. For a
great variety of naval state papers relating to the expedition, see id. pp.
113 to 135 j 200 to 241 ; 301 to 308 ; and 423 to 428. The preceding
vol. abounds with Gazette letters written by the different naval and military
commanders during its progress.

t See Vol. |. p. 548, et seq.

136 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

the Mars of 74 guns, April 26, 1798. We find no mention of
him since the latter period.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

RICHARD RUNWA BOWYER, ESQ.
WAS posted May 2, 1798 j and died at Titchfield, Hants,
Feb. 11, 1823.

GEORGE FREDERICK RYVES, ESQ.

THIS officer is the representative of a very ancient and re-
spectable family in Dorsetshire, descended from John Ryvesr
of Damory Court, near Blandford, Esq., one of whose grand-
sons, Bruno, was Chaplain to King Charles I. in 1628 ; and
at the restoration became Chaplain in Ordinary to his son, by
whom he was successively made Dean of Windsor, Secretary
of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and Rector of Hase-
ley, in Oxfordshire, as a compensation for the losses he had
sustained during the great rebellion, at the commencement
of which he had been deprived of the livings of Stairwell, co.
Middlesex, and St. Martin's in the Vintry, London; his
house was plundered ; and himself obliged to fly from place
to place, for refuge from the fury of the Presbyterians *„

* The above mentioned John Ryves, of Damory Court, had eight sons
and three daughters. Three of the former received the honor of knight-
hood, viz. John, William, and Thomas. William was presented by hi*
father with 24,000/. for his fortune, part of which he laid out near Oxford ;
he then married and settled in Ireland, where he purchased Rathsallow,
Crunmore, and Cayamoie, in the county of Down ; Ballyferinott, near
Dublin ; and the rectory of the Naas. He was one of the Judges in Ireland,
Speaker to the House of Lords, and the King's Attorney-General.

Thomas, eighth son of John Ryves, an eminent advocate in Doctors'
Commons and the Court of Admiralty, was elected a Fellow of New
College, Oxford, in 1598; and made a D. C. L. in 1610. He was
also one of the Masters in Chancery, and Judge of the Faculty and Pre-
rogative Court in Ireland. Ha received the honor of knighthood from
Charles I. who appointed him his Advocate, and assistant to the Warden
of the Cinque Ports and Castle of Dover. When the rebellion broke out,
Sir Thomas gave good evidence of his loyalty and valor ; and, notwith-
standing his advanced age, received several wounds in fights and skirmishes
for his royal master's cause, and suffered much in his estate on that ac-
count. He was the author of many books, among which were " Historta
Navalis ^ntiqua," lib. 4. Lond. 1633, 8vo. ; and " Wisteria Navalis Me-
dia," Load. 1640, 8vo. He left the advowson of Abbot's Stoke, 1007. a
year, td New College, Oxford.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 13/

Mr, G. F. Ryves was born Sept. 8, 1758 ; educated at
Harrow school ; and entered the naval service as a Midship-
man on board the Kent of 74 guns, commanded by the Hon.
Charles Fielding, and stationed as a guard-ship at Plymouth,
Feb. 15, 1774. In the month of July following, the Kent
was ordered on a six weeks' cruise ; and when working out
of the Sound to join the other ships of the squadron, had 1 1
men killed and 45 wounded, by the explosion of nearly 400
Ibs. of gunpowder, which had been placed in a chest on the
larboard side of the poop. This melancholy accident took
place at a moment when the Kent was saluting the Admiral's
flag, and Mr. Ryves walking on the opposite side of the
same deck; his preservation may therefore be justly deemed
miraculous — but that of a marine drummer still more extraor-
dinary. The latter was sitting upon the chest in question
when its contents ignited, and blown into the sea, from
whence he was taken on board without having received the
slightest injury !

In 1775, our officer was removed into the Portland of 50
guns, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral James Young, father
of the late Vice-Admiral of Great Britain, who was then the
junior Lieutenant of that ship *. At the commencement of
the American war we find Mr. Ryves in the West Indies,
where he was selected from a numerous quarter-deck, to com-
mand one of the Portland's tenders, the Tartar of 8 guns, and
33 men, including himself, another Midshipman, and a Sur-
geon's Mate. In this small vessel he had the good fortune
to capture upwards of fifty prizes, some of which were pri-
vateers of force superior to his own ; and it once happened,
that with his crew reduced to 12 men, he had no less than 40
prisoners on board.

Mr. Ryves returned to England in the Portland ; and on
the 1st May 1779, sailed for New York in the Europe 64,
bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, by whom he
was made a Lieutenant during the passage, into the Pacific
store-ship. In this vessel he saw much hard service, and had

* Sir William Young1, G. C. B. Admiral of the Red, and Vice-Admiral
of Great Britain, died in Queen Anne Street, London, Oct, 25, 1821, in the
71st year of his age. For a memoir of that distinguished officer, see " An-
nual Biography and Obituary for 1823," p. 315, et seq.

138 VOST- CAPTAIN'S OV 1J98.

nearly suffered shipwreck when passing through Hell Gates,
on her way to Huntingdon Bay, Long Island, for the purpose
of affording protection to the troops employed cutting wood
foe the use of the army. The Pacific was thus employed for
a period of nineteen months, and during that time experienced
one of the severest winters ever known; the glass being fre-
quently \y below 0, and the ice so solid that the Ame-
ricans meditated her capture by marching a body of troops
over it to attack her : their scheme, however, was providen-
tially frustrated by the intervention of a snow-storm, which
completely dispersed them.

Previous to her departure from Huntingdon Bay, the cook
of the Pacific, a man with only one arm, fell overboard, and
would inevitably have perished but for the generous exertions
of Lieutenant Ryves, who leaped after, and succeeded in res-
cuing him. A similar act of humanity had been performed
by our officer when commanding tke Portland's tender : a
seaman having lost his hat overboard, jumped after and
reached its, but not before his strength had failed him. This
being observed by Mr. Ryves, he immediately swam to his
assistance, and was fortunate enough to bring him back in
safety to the vessel.

Lieutenant Ryves continued in the Pacific, himself and the
Master constantly at watch and watch, until the latter end of
1780, when he joined the Fox frigate as First Lieutenant ; in
which capacity we find him serving on the Jamaica station,
from whence he returned to England with the Hon. Captain
Windsor, in the Lowestoffe of 28 guns, towards the conclu-
sion of thd waf . Whilst at Jamaica, Lieutenant Ryves was
the happy instrument of saving a marine centinel, who fell
overboard from his post on the fore-castle, and having struck
against the anchor, was completely stunned thereby. This
happened on the evening of a Christmas day, and when all
the crew were below regaling themselves. Providentially,
Lieutenant Ryves happened to be on deck, and hearing the
noise occasioned by the man's musket striking against the
anchor, immediately suspected the cause, flew to the poor
fellow's relief, and jumping off the gunwale with a rope in his
hands, caught him by the head with his feet, when in the act
of sinking. In performing this generous act, our officer's

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 139

hands were very much burnt, owing to the shortness of the
rope, which brought him up before his body reached the
water.

Mr. Ryves's next appointment was as First Lieutenant of
the Grafton 74, Captain Sir John Hamilton; which ship being
in the Bay of Biscay, on her passage to the East Indies,
rolled all her masts away, and was consequently obliged to
put back.

A general peace having taken place, and the Grafton being
put out of commission, Lieutenant Ryves made a tour on
foot over part of France, Switzerland, Alsace, the Duchy of
Luxembourg, and Flanders. In 1/88 he was appointed first
Lieutenant of the Aurora frigate ; and in Feb. 1795, to the
Arethusa : which latter ship formed part of the fleet sent to
Quiberon Bay, for the purpose of co-operating with the
French royalists, and was subsequently employed cruising
on the coast of France.

In Oct. 1795, our officer was promoted to the rank of Com-
mander, and appointed to the Bull-Dog sloop of war, then in
the West Indies ; to which station he proceeded as a pas-
senger in the Colossus 74, one of the fleet commanded by
Rear- Admiral Christian, and destined for the reduction of the
French colonies *.

On his arrival at St. Lucia, the Bull-Dog being absent,
Captain Ryves landed with a body of seamen \ and during the
ensuing operations in that island, was employed in assisting
the troops, making roads, and transporting guns, one of which,
a 24-pounder, to the surprise of the. artillerymen of the army,
who considered it impossible to be accomplished, was mount-
ed upon one of the highest hills, and from thence threw the
only point-blank shot which fell into the Morne Fortunee.
After the conquest of the island, Captain Ryves remained on
shore with 400 seamen, to remove the cannon from the
British advanced batteries into the Morne ; a service of ex-
treme fatigue, the rainy season having set in, and the detach-
ment having nothing but the bare earth to lie on.

* The disasters of the fleet under Rear*Admiral Christian are well
known, aud have already been noticed by us. See Vol. I, note t, at p. 89 j
and Vol. II. p. 96, et «ey.

140 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

The skill, alacrity, and unremitting exertions of the navy,
during the siege of St. Lucia, were duly acknowledged by the
Commander-in-Chief of the army, to whose General Order of
May 27, 1796* which will be found in our first volume, p.
] 34, we must refer the reader, for a passage applicable to the
subject of this memoir ; whose conduct is also eulogized by
Sir Hugh C. Christian, in his official letter on the same sub-
ject, from which we make the following extracts :

" In the prepress of the siege great difficulties were to be surmounted,
and much service of fatigue undertaken. The more effectually to assist
the operations of the army, I directed 800 seamen to land, under the com-
mand of Captain Lane of the Astrea, and Captain Ry ves of the Bull-Dog :
the merit of their services will be better reported by the Commander-in-
Chief of his Majesty's troops ; but I feel it an indispensable duty to ac-
quaint their Lordships, that the conduct of the officers and seamen equalled
my most sanguine expectations, and that it has been in every instance
highly meritorious. * * * *

" Captain Ryves of the Bull-Dog, will proceed immediately to join his
ship ; but I should be unjust to the merits of his exertion, were I to
omit recommending him to their Lordships' notice and protection."

The Rear-Admiral, on his return to England, addressed
the following letter to Mrs. Ryves :

" Cavendish Square, Nov. 29, 1/96.

" Madam. — Your letter of the 24th was forwarded to me from the Isle
of Wight, which will account for my not replying more immediately to it.
I had the pleasure of hearing from Captain Ryves a few days previous to
my quitting the West Indies ; he was then perfectly well, and proceeding-
to the island ef Antigua to refit his ship.

" I much regret that more notice has not been taken of his conspicuous
merit and exertions. I hope that a favorable opinion is entertained of
him, and should believe that a very little exertion of interest by his
friends, would obtain for him the promotion to which, in my opinion, he
has a most just claim. I trust, in such event, that I may hare the satis-
faction of seeing him very shortly. I have the honor to be, Madam,
&c., &c., &c.

(Signed) " HUGH C. CHRISTIAN."

From this period Captain Ryves was employed cruising off
the Virgin Islands, until Sept. 17975 when he convoyed the
trade to England, and on his arrival was put out of commis-
sion. In April 1798, he was again appointed to the Bull-
Dog ; and on the 29th of the following month, advanced to
post rank in the Medea frigate. His next appointment was
in April 1800, to the Agincourt of 64 guns, bearing the flag

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 141

6f Sir Charles Morice Pole, with whom he had before sailed
in the Colossus. The Agincourt was at Newfoundland during
the ensuing summer ; and on her return from thence at the
close of the season, Captain Ryves received orders to join the
armament preparing for the Baltic. These, however, were
countermanded ; and after serving for some time in the North
Sea under Admiral Dickson, we find him conveying General
Graham, (now Lord Lynedocb) and the 25th regiment, to
Egypt.

The harmony that prevailed between the Agiucourt's crew
and the troops has never been surpassed, not one complaint
having been made on either side during the passage to Abou-
kir Bay, where the whole regiment, with the exception of one
man, was landed in perfect health. The same corps was
subsequently taken back to Malta by Captain Ryves, who
appears to have suffered greatly in a pecuniary point of
view, as in consequence of the Agincourt not being fitted
up for the reception of troops, he was obliged to entertain
no less than 10 officers, exclusive of the General, at his
own expence, without ever receiving the least compensatiori
from government. Previous to his quitting the shores of
Egypt, he was presented by the Grand Seignior with the gold
medal of the Order of the Crescent.

We next find Captain Ryves entrusted with the command
of a small squadron, consisting of the Agincourt, Solebay,
Champion, and Salamine, sent by Lord Keith to take posses-
sion of Corfu, where he remained till July 4, 1802, on which
day he was honored with the thanks of the Government and
Corps Representative of that island. The address presented
to him by a deputation of Syndicks and other official person-
ages, was couched in the following terms :

" Three months since, Sir, you saw us as at present, on board the vessel
you command, but on a very different occasion. We then came to re-
joice at your arrival, and to beg your continuance of those favors by which
the English army had already so greatly benefited us. To-day it is to
mourn your departure, and to thank you for those benefits arising from
your presence ; nor can we sufficiently satisfy our hearts, or express our
sentiments on this last subject, whatever may be our wishes ; to have
proved the fact, and made a more lasliug acknowledgment, it would have
been our pleasure to have added, had not the state of our circumstances,
and the ungrateful times in which we live, prevented the fulfilment of our
washes. At the same time, sincere gratitude indelibly engraven on the

142 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1J98.

hearts of men, is a nobler monument to the honor of themselves, and its
object, and more becoming in acceptance, than arches and statues.

" Go, Sir, where you are sure to be followed by our earnest prayers ; go,
and present to your King these sentiments of veneration and gratitude,
which our great regard for yourself, and indeed all British officers, has
caused us to make public. May our Republic one day attain that ascend-
ant which the aid of sovereigns appears to conduct us to j when the honor
of rendering some service to the British nation will not be rejected. If to
save us from misfortune, sparing by the most circumspect conduct even
the slightest threat which might promote revolt ; keeping secret all poli-
tical and other important concerns j whatever, in fine, related to the conclu-
sion of a peace necessary to the safety of our lives ; is not a service which
we can never hope adequately to return ? The answer to this must live for
ever in our memories, and be a homage rendered in silence to greatness,
while your renown is alone left to us as a consolation for your departure
from our country this day."

Some time after his departure from Corfu, Captain Ryves
was ordered by Sir Richard Bickerton to proceed to the
Madalena islands, and if possible to do so, without using
force, to prevent the French taking possession of them, which,
according to intelligence recently received, they were about
to do, notwithstanding the treaty of Amiens, by which all
hostilities had long since ceased in Europe. At this period
there did not exist a chart of those islands, nor had any ship
of war ever anchored among them. The Agincourt was nearly
lost in doing so. No Frenchmen appearing, Captain Ryves
spent the week he was directed to remain there in making a
survey of the islands, which he performed alone, there not
being a single person on board able to assist him.

In May 1803, the ship's company of the Gibraltar evinced
symptoms of mutiny, in consequence of their being kept
abroad after hostilities had ceased ; and her commander hav-
ing been dismissed by the sentence of a court-martial, Cap-
tain Ryves was appointed to that ship, and sent to Naples to
attend upon the King. He continued on that service about
eight months, and had the satisfaction of completely restoring
subordination among his men ; 50 of whom were frequently
allowed to go on shore at one time, without ever giving cause
for the least complaint from the inhabitants of that city ;
their general conduct on board being equally exemplary, pu-
nishment was seldom necessary. When about to quit that
station, the King presented Captain Ryves with a superb dia-

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 143

uiond ring; whilst from the King of Sardinia he received a
handsome gold snuff-box, in return for the attention he had
paid to his royal brother, when on board the Gibraltar for a
passage to Cagliari.

On the arrival of Lord Nelson to assume the chief com-
mand in the Mediterranean at the renewal of the war, Cap-
tain Ryves presented his Lordship with a manuscript chart
of the Madalena and Barelino Islands : its correctness and
utility are proved by the following letter, dated Victory, Nov.
1, 1803 :

" My dear Sir, — We anchored in Agincourt Sound yesterday evening,
and I assure you that I individually feel a.11 the obligation due to you for
ypur most correct chart and directions for these islands. We worked the
Victory every foot of the way from Asinana to this anchorage, the wind
blowing from Largo Sarde, under double reefed top-sails. I shall write to
the Admiralty, stating how much they ought to feel obliged to your very
great skill and attention in making this survey. This is absolutely one of
the finest harbours I have ever seen." The gallant Admiral, alluding to
the state of Naples, &c. &c. thus proceeds in his usual kind and cqmmuni-
cative manner :

" Although I forgot to mention to you when the Childers went to Na-
ples, my desire, if circumstances would allow the Gibraltar to be spared
from thence, that you would see the Sardinian galley with the King's bro-
ther on board, safe into Cagliari, I have since then wrote to you by way
of Palermo on the subject : but I am sure you would dp it if the parti-
cular service you are employed upon would admit it, without any directions
from me. We are all in high health, and nothing to ruffle our tempers.
The French have eight sail ready, so that we shall have them out one of
these days. I sincerely hope that your ship's company are perfectly re-
covered. We have had very bad weather, and I am afraid the Gibraltar's
rotten masts and yards must have suffered. As I am very anxious to get
the Raven back before I leave this anchorage, I beg you will give her all
the assistance in your power and send her off, for we are very short of can-
dles, nearly in distress. With every good wish, I am, my dear Sir, your
much obliged, and very obedient servant,

(Signed) " NELSON and BRONTE."

" P. S. Will you be so good as to embark my servant Gaetano OH board
the Raven."

In June 1804, the Gibraltar having been upwards of
twelve years hi commission, and in great want of repair, was
ordered to proceed home, calling at Cadiz for the trade bound
to England, with which she arrived at the Motherbank on
the 14th of the following month; and two days after, the

144 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1798.

following letter was sent to Captain Ryves, by the masters
of the vessels who had accompanied him :

" Ship Mountroyal, \Gth July, 1804.

" Sir. — We the undersigned Masters of vessels under your convoy from
Cadiz, sensible of the advantage we derived from your very great protec-
tion and attention during the whole course of the voyage, beg leave to pre-
sent our sincere acknowledgments for the same, and to efier our best
\vishes for your future happiness. We are respectfully, Sir,

" Your most obedient Servants,

(Signed by the different Masters.)

" Geo. Fred. Ryves, Esq."

The Gibraltar was paid off July 30, 1804, and Captain
Ryves did not obtain another appointment until March 1810 ;
at which period he was commissioned to the Africa of 64
guns, and ordered to the Baltic station, where he was em-
ployed in a variety of hazardous services, particularly that of
blockading Copenhagen, keeping the numerous gun-boats
by which he was constantly surrounded in check, and in con-
ducting two hundred sail of merchantmen through the Great
Belt, during the prevalence of a heavy gale of wind, without
the loss of a single vessel. The manner in which this latter
service was conducted, excited the surprise of officers who
had been several years on the station, one of whom addressed
a most gratifying letter to Mrs. Ryves on the occasion.

According to the orders received by Captain Ryves, on
quitting the Baltic with the above fleet, he was to part com-
pany with his valuable charge off Yarmouth, and from
thence proceed to Portsmouth. On his passage thither, he
experienced a most severe gale of wind from the southward,
with very thick weather ; and fearing lest the Africa should be
driven back into the North Sea, he immediately resolved to
bring her up, although in deep water, and against the advice
of the pilots, who considered such a step unsafe, and relin-
quished all charge of the ship. The event answered Captain
Ryves's expectations j the Africa rode very comfortable for
four days, at the end of which time the gale abated, and she
was found to be exactly in the same place where the anchor
was let go. Had such a measure been adopted by the
St. George, Hero, and Minotaur, they would in all probability
have avoided the melancholy fate which befel them about
that time.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 145

- The Africa being required for the flag of Vice-Admiral
Sawyer on the Halifax station, Captain Ryves was super-
seded soon after his arrival in England j since which he has
been on half-pay.

Our officer married, first, Jan. 3, 1792, Catharine Elizabeth,
third daughter of the late Hon. James Everard Arundel, of
Ashcomb, Wilts, sister of the late Lord Arundel, and aunt
of the present peer. The death of this lady was announced
to Captain Ryves when at Naples ; on which occasion Lord
Nelson, who ever delighted in administering consolation to
the afflicted mind, wrote to him as follows :

" Victory, Madalena, Feb. 10, 1804.

" My dear Sir. — It is with the sincerest sorrow that I am to be the
messenger of such news as must distress you very much, but for the sake
of your dear children you must bear up against this heavy misfortune. To
attempt consolation at such a moment is I know out of the question ;
therefore I can only assure you of my most sincere condolence, and that I
am your most faithful friend."

(Signed) " NELSON & BRONTE."

Captain Ryves married, second, in 1806, a daughter of
R. Graham, Esq., of Chelsea Hospital, by whom he has
seven children. By his former marriage he has three children
living. His eldest son has recently been promoted to the
rank of Commander in the Sophie sloop of war, on the East
India station. Two other sons are also serving in the navy.

Agents. — Messrs. Goode and Clarke.

GEORGE SCOTT, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and
a Colonel of Royal Marines.

THIS officer is the second son of John Scott, of Gala, in
Selkirkshire, Esq., and descended from the ancient and most
noble family of Buccleuch. He was born in 1770 J first went
to sea in 1782 ; and served as Midshipman and Master's-
Mate, in the Edgar, Vengeance, Romney, Blenheim, Diadem,
Latona, Goliah, and Adamant, employed on various sta-
tions, until Feb. 19, 1791, when he was appointed a Lieuten-
ant of the Thisbe frigate. We next find him holding the
same rank in the Vengeance 74, which ship formed part of
the squadron under Rear-Admiral Gardner, when that officer

VOL. II. I,

)46 POST*CAPTAINS or 1798.

made an unsuccessful attempt to obtain possession of Mar-
tinique, in 1793 *.

On his return to England, Lieutenant Scott removed into
the Bellerophon 74, bearing the broad pendant, and after-
wards the flag, of the late Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart. He
consequently bore a part in Earl Howe's actions of May 28
and 29, and June 1, 1794 ; for a general outline of which,
we must refer the reader to our first volume, p. 75, et seq*
An account of the Bellerophon's conspicuous behaviour on
those memorable days will be found at pp. 509 and 510
of the same.

Lieutenant Scott's next appointment was, Aug. 1, 1794,
to the Niger of 32 guns ; in which frigate he assisted at the
capture of a French convoy, May 9, 1795 f- At the com-
mencement of the ensuing year he was promoted to the
rank of Commander, in the Albatross sloop of war.

Captain Scott's good qualities as an officer are thus alluded
to in the records of the Committee of Merchants, appointed
for the purpose of counteracting the mutiny at the Nore :

" Marine Society's Office, London, July 31, 1797.
" At a meeting of the Committee of Merchants, &c. &<:., held here this
day —

" RESOLVED, — That the thanks of this Committee be transmitted to Cap-
tain Scott, and the officers of H. M. S. Albatross, for their spirited conduct
in suppressing a mutiny on board the said ship, and detaching her from
the ships in a mutinous state,, in order to prevent the contagion becoming
more general on board the Albatross.

(Signed) " HUGH INGLIB, Chairman."

This testimony of the approbation of so respectable and
patriotic a body as the merchants of London, was no doubt
highly gratifying to Captain Scott, whom we shortly after find
cruising in the North Sea, where he captured two of the
enemy's privateers ; de Braave of 12 guns, and 1'Einouchet
of 8 guns and 55 men. His post commission bears date
June 15, J798.

From this period, Captain Scott remained on half-pay till
July 10, 1799, when he obtained the command of the Stately,
a 64 gun ship, armed en flute. In April 1800, he sailed with
troops for the Mediterranean ; and after his arrival on that

:sxi '-* See Vol. I. p. 40 ». t See Vol. I. p. 559.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 147

station, was employed in the respective blockades of Genoa
and Malta*. Early in the following year, he accompanied
Lord Keith to Aboukir Bay, where he commanded the left
wing of the boats employed to land the army under Sir Ralph
Abercromby f. For his conduct on this occasion, and during
the subsequent operations in that quarter, the gold medal of
the Turkish Order of the Crescent was presented to him by
order of the Grand Seignior J.

Captain Scott continued in the Mediterranean during the
suspension of hostilities, occasioned by the treaty of Amiens ;
and retained the command of the Stately till Aug. 1804, when
Jie joined the Success of 32 guns. From the latter he removed
March 13, 1806, into the Malabar 54 ; which ship he left on
the 31st July following.

His next appointment was, June 1 1, 1807, to the Horatio,
a 38-gun frigate, built of fir. On the 10th Feb. 1809, being
in the neighbourhood of the Virgin Islands, he fell in with,
and at three-quarters of an hour past noon brought la Junon,
a French frigate of the largest class, to close action, which
was maintained with the greatest skill and bravery on both
sides till 3- 2ol P. M. when the Latona frigate, which had
previously chased the enemy, arrived within pistol-shot ; and
in a few minutes afterwards la Junon, having lost her fore
and mizen-masts, was compelled to surrender.

In this gallant action the Horatio had 7 men killed and 26
wounded 5 among the latter was Captain Scott, who, after
being deprived of the services of his first Lieutenant, received
a very severe wound in the shoulder by a grape-shot, and was
thereby obliged to leave the ship in charge of the Hon.
George Douglas, by whom his place was most nobly supplied,
She was also much cut up in her masts and rigging, the enemy
in the early part of the conflict having used every effort in his
power to disable her. The Latona had 6 men slightly wound-
ed, and lost her fore-mast two minutes after the firing had
ceased, The Driver, a ship-sloop, closed towards the teiv
ruination of the affair, but does not appear to have been of

» See Vol. I. pp. 53 and 281.

f See Vol. I., note |, at p. 259 ; and note *, at p. 313.
J See Vol. I. note at p. 129.

148 POST-CX-PTAINS OF 1/98.

any assistance in subduing the enemy. She however had 1
man wounded.

La Junon, from the number of shot-holes low down in
her hull, was in a very leaky state, and had no less than 130
killed and wounded, including among the latter her brave
commander, Captain Roussea, mortally. When intercepted,
she was proceeding from the Saintes to Europe *.

For his excellent conduct and severe sufferings on this oc-
casion, Captain Scott received the marked encomiums of his
superiors, and a pension of 250/. per annum, which has since
been increased to 300£. On the 21st Feb. in the following
year, being in lat. 33° KX N. and long. 29° 30' W. he captured,
after along chase, and running action of one hour, la Neces-
site, pierced for 40 guns, mounting 28, with a complement
of 186 men, and laden with naval stores and provisions from
Brest, bound to the Isle of France. No casualties appear to
have occurred on either side.

During the two last years of the war, Captain Scott com-
manded the Gibraltar 80, and Asia of 74 guns. In the former
he remained but a few weeks ; the latter he was obliged to
resign on account of the wound he had received five years
before, and which during that long period, had caused him
incessant pain. He was appointed to a royal yacht June, 16,
1814 ; and nominated a C. B. June 4, 1815. He obtained
a Colonelcy of Royal Marines, July 19, 1821.

Our officer married, Oct. 27, 1810, the Hon. Caroline
Lucy, daughter of Lord Douglas, and niece of the Duke of
Buccleuch.

Agents. — Messrs. Atkins and Son.

* La Junon was first discovered and chased by the Asp of 16 guns,
and Sup^rieure, pierced for 14, but with only 4 on board. The former
sloop was soon lost sight of by her consort, who not only gallantly pur-
sued the French frigate into the hands of Captain Scott, but during the
action rendered every assistance which could be effected by the greatest
skill and courage. La Junon was retaken in the course of the same year,
after a most desperate resistance, by a squadron of French frigates bound!
to Guadaloupe.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798. 149

THOMAS DUNDAS, ESQ.

THIS officer, after commanding the Merlin sloop of war for a
considerable period in the North Sea and British Channel, was
promoted to the rank of Post-Captain July 9, 1798 j and about
the same time appointed to la Prompte of 20 guns*. In
March 1799, he burnt a Spanish vessel of war, pierced for
26 guns, but with only 12 mounted. His next appointment
was to the Solebay frigate, in which he escorted a fleet of
merchantmen to the Mediterranean, from whence he returned
July 2, 1802,

Towards the latter end of 1804 we find him in the Naiad
frigate, making prize of a Spanish ship worth upwards of
200,000 dollars. In the same vessel he also assisted at the
capture of the Fanny, a French privateer of 16 guns and 80
men, and the Superb letter of marque, of 4 guns and 20
men ; the latter bound to Martinique, with a cargo of sun-
dries. The Naiad was one of the repeaters to Lord Nelson's
fleet in the glorious battle of Trafalgar, and rendered essential
service afterwards, by towing the Belleille 74 from her peril-
ous situation near the shoals, whither she was fast drifting.

Captain Dundas subsequently commanded the Africa of 64
guns, and the Vengeur 74. He commissioned the Bulwark of
76 guns, on the 28th March 1822, and is now stationed at
Plymouth.

Our officer is said to be the inventor of an inflammable
ball, <e applicable for besieging a town, and peculiar for its
small weight, by which means it may be thrown to a great
distance ; and it takes fire on a very curious plan : it spreads
a flame in three distinct openings, which is so strong, that the
fire extends a full yard in length from the ball itself j and is
so powerful, that any thing under, over, or near, cannot escape
its effects f."

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

GEORGE FOWKE, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Post-Captain July 9, 1798; pre-

* La Prowpte was the first ship launched by the French Republic,
f See Nav. Chron. v. 30. p. 487.

150 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798.

vious to which he commanded the Swallow sloop of waf
in the West Indies, where he captured several of the enemy's
privateers. He assisted at the capture of the neutral islands
in 1801 ; and soon after had the misfortune to be wrecked
in the Proselyte frigate, off St. Martin's. During the late
war he commanded in succession the division of prison ships
stationed in the river Medway; the Royal William*, and
Prince, three-deckers, bearing the flag of the commander-in-
chief at Portsmouth ; and the depdt for prisoners of war at
Stapleton. Since the peace, he had the superintendence of the
ordinary at Sheerness, for the established period of three years*

-
JAMES KEITH SHEPHARD, ESQ.

THIS omcerwas made a Lieutenant Sept. 19, 1777 > obtained
post rank July 12, 1798 ; and during the remainder of the
war commanded the Redoubt of 20 guns, stationed as a float-
ing battery in the river Humber. He was appointed to
superintend the impress service at Gravesend about July
1810 ; and is at present employed in the preventive service.

Agent* —

RICHARD HARRISON PEARSON, ESQ.

THIS officer, a descendant from the elder branch of the
Pearsons of Kippencross, in Scotland, is the eldest son of the
late Sir Richard Pearson, Knt., who died Lieutenant-Gover-
nor of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, in Jan. 1806, by
Margaret, third daughter of Francis Harrison, of Appleby,
Westmoreland, Esq.f

* The long services of the Royal William (alias "OLD BILLY"), pro-
tracted beyond those of any other ship ever built, ended in 1813, at which
period she was examined, and her timbers found so defective, that she was
ordered to be broken up. It is not known when this memorable ship was
first built ; but it is recorded of her, that she came into harbour to be
laid up in ordinary, on the 2d Oct. 1679 ; went out March 16, 1 700 ; came
in again on the 26th July 1702 ; was ordered, July 31, 1714, to be taken
to pieces, for the purpose of being rebuilt ; and was undocked on the 3d
September 1719.

f Sir Richard Pearson was the officer who, in Sept. 1779, with hU own
ship, the Serapis, and the Countess of Scarborough, an armed vessel, whose

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1796. 151

He was made a Lieutenant in 1793 ; commanded the Stork
sloop of war in 1797, and in that vessel captured the Lynx,
a French privatee^ of 14 guns and 50 men. His post com-
mission bears date Aug. 7, 1798.

On the 18th May 1803, the very day on which the decla-
ration of renewed hostilities against France issued from St.
James's, Captain Pearson, in the Doris frigate, being off
Ushant, fell in with and captured I'Affronteur, a French lug-
ger of 14 guns, long 9-pounders, and 92 men. This vessel
kept up a running fight with the Doris till the instant Captain
Pearson laid her alongside ; nor did she then give up a con-
test so fraught with temerity, until 9 men, including her cap-
tain, were killed, and 14 wounded. Luckily only 1 man
was wounded on board the frigate. From this period Cap-
tain Pearson cruised, with very great success, against the
enemy's trade, until the month of September following, when
he was obliged to come on shore through ill health. He
subsequently commanded the Dictator of 64 guns, and Ben-
bo W, a third-rate. The latter ship received the flag of the
Lord High Admiral of Great Britain^ when the Lords Com-
missioners, attended by the Navy, Transport, and Victualling
Boards, visited Portsmouth, in September 1818.'

Captain Pearson married, in 1799, Miss Maria Holmes, of
Westcombe Park, near Greenwich.

Agent. — — —

SAMUEL PETER FORSTER, ESQ.

THIS officer commanded the Albicore sloop, on the West
India station, in 1797 j and was promoted into the Abergavenny
of 54 guns, bearing the flag of Sir Hyde Parker, at Jamaica,
about June, 1798. From that ship he removed into the Re-
tribution frigate, in which he arrived at Portsmouth with
.Lieutenant -General Lord Balcarras, late Governor of Jamaica,

joint force amounted to 64 guns and 380 men, so gallantly defended him-
self against four of the enemy's ships, carrying 126 guns and 1 100 men, com-
manded by that notorious trailer and freebooter, Paul Jones, a naturalized
subject of the United States, and by his gallant exertions prevented a fleet
under his convoy, valued at upwards of 600,OOOJ. sterling, from being cap-
tured. A portrait and memoir of Sir Richard \vill be found in the Nav.
Chron v. 24. p. 353, et aeq. . .1 ., '

152 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

and suite, Jan. 20, 1802. His post commission bears date
Aug. 17, 1798.

Captain Forster married, Aug. 20, 1811, Miss Weekes, of
Plympton, Devon.

Agent.—

GEORGE ASTLE, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1794 j and obtained
post rank Aug. 27, 1798. During the remainder of the war
he commanded la Virginie frigate, in the East Indies, where
he took several prizes, and among others captured three
Dutch vessels of war, mounting in the whole 32 guns. He
returned to England Feb. 14, 1803.

Agent. —

JOHN TREMAYNE RODD, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

THIS officer was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain,
Sept. 7, 1798. He had previously commanded the Bonetta
and Scorpion sloops of war. In the latter he captured the
Courier, a Dutch vessel of 6 guns. At the renewal of hos-
tilities, in 1803, he was appointed Flag-Captain to the late
Sir Charles Cotton, Bart, in the San Josef, a first rate ; and
in 1805, to command the Indefatigable frigate, under the
orders of Admiral Cornwallis : but with the exception of his
capturing la Diana, a French letter of marque of 14 guns,
pierced for 22, and 68 men, laden with naval stores, &c. for
the Isle of France ; and la Clarisse, a privateer of 3 guns,
pierced for 14, and 48 men ; we find no farther mention of
him until April, 1809, when he assisted at the destruction of
the French squadron in Aix Roads *. He was appointed to
the Warrior 74, in the summer of 1814.

Captain Rodd married, in 1809, the only daughter of
Major Rennell, a gentleman well known to the literary world.

Agent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney, M.P.

JOHN BAKER HAY, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790 j obtained post
rank Sept. 7, 1798 ; and subsequently commanded the Sen-
• See Vol. I. p. 84.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 153

sible frigate, and la Constance of 24 guns. He was ap-
pointed Flag-Captain to Sir James Hawkins Whitshed, in
Feb. 1821 j and died at Portsmouth, May 13, 1823, in his
63d year.

SIR THOMAS MASTERMAN HARDY, BART.

Knight Commander of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath ; a
Colonel of the Royal Marines ; Commodore on the coast of South Amer-
ica ; and a Chief-of-Dlvision in the Portuguese Navy,

THIS officer, a native of Somersetshire, early displayed a
decided attachment to the naval profession ; and, contrary to
the wishes of his family, resolutely began his career of glory
without any interest to promote his views. He served for
some time as Master's-Mate in the Hebe frigate, commanded
by the late gallant Captain Alexander Hood, in which ship
Vice-Admiral Sir George Cockburn, whilst a Midshipman,
was his messmate. After being separated by the vicissitudes
of service for many years, they again met in la Minerve, of
which frigate Mr. Hardy had been appointed a Lieutenant
early in the revolutionary war, and in which capacity he
served under his Friend Captain Cockburn during the various
operations already related in our memoir of that officer *.

Whilst preparations were making in the fleet off Cadiz for
an expedition against Teneriffe, the gallantry of our seamen
was conspicuously displayed in the road of Santa Cruz. On

* See Vol. I. p. 520 et seq. In addition to what we have already stated
respecting the action between la Minerve and the Spanish frigate Sabina,
it is necessary to observe, that on the surrender of the latter, Lieutenants
Culverhouse and Hardy, with 40 men, were sent on board the prize, which
was soon after taken in tow, but cast off again in consequence of another
frigate approaching. This vessel engaged la Minerve about half an hour,
and then hauled off. A Spanish squadron now hove in sight, and la Mi-
nerve had her own safety to look to. The officers on board the prize,
purposely to draw the attention of the enemy from what, on more than one
account, wouUf have been by far the more valuable acquisition of the two,
hoisted English over Spanish colours ; and with their few men, not only
kept the prisoners in subjection, but manoeuvred with the greatest skill,
until the fall of their masts, when they were obliged to surrender. On
€ommodore Nelson's return from Porto Ferrajo to Gibraltar, they bad
the gratification of being allowed to rejoin la Minerve, having been pre-
viously exchanged by the Spaniards. ' •

154 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

the 28th Mny, 1797> Captains Hallo well and Cockburh,
of the Lively and Minerve, having discovered a French
brig of war lying close to the town, ordered their boats,
under the command of Lieutenant Hardy, to proceed into
the bay and attempt the daring enterprise of cutting her
out. Accordingly, about 2h 30' P. M., our officer proceed-
ed on this service j and being gallantly supported by Lieu-
tenant (now Rear-Admiral) Gage, and his other companions,
he boarded and carried the enemy, notwithstanding a steady
fire of musketry from the brig) and a heavy discharge of
artillery and small arms from the shore, to which he was for
a long time exposed, as also to the fire of a large ship at
anchor in the road. The prize proved to be la Mutine,
mounting 12 long 6-pounders and 2 brass 36-pr. carron-
ades, having on board about 120 men.

In this dashing affair the British had not a man killed, and only
15 wounded, including Lieutenant Hardy, who was immediately
advanced for his bravery to the rank of Commander, and ap-
pointed to la Mutine, in which vessel he afterwards became
more nearly associated with the services of NELSON, who
had already borne public testimony to his merit, and im-
mediately after his late achievement had exerted his influence
with the commander-in-chief to obtain him the reward his
gallant conduct merited. The following is a copy of the letter
written by Sir John Jervis to Sir Horatio Nelson, in reply to
his recommendation :

" My dear Admiral. — The capture of la Mutine was so desperate an
enterprise, that I should certainly have promoted Lieutenant Hardy, so
that neither you, HaUowell, nor Cockburn, have any debtor account to ine
upon this occasion. He has got it by his own bat, and I hope will
prosper."

We next find Captain Hardy accompanying Nelson in pur-
suit of the powerful armament which had sailed from Toulon,
and proceeded to Egypt, under the command of General
Buonaparte. Immediately after the defeat of the French fleet
in Aboukir Bay, he was made post into the Vanguard 74,
bearing the flag of his heroic chief, which ship had become
vacant by the selection of Captain Berry, to convey the
official account of the victory to Earl St. Vincent*. His
commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, Oct. 2, 1798.

* Sec Vol. I p. 777.

t>OST-CAPTAiNS OF 1798* 155

Towards the latter end of the same year King Ferdi-
nand of Naples, and his Court, embarked in the Vanguard,
for a passage to Palermo, where that persecuted monarch
presented Captain Hardy with his miniature on a box set
round with a double row of diamonds. Nelson soon after-
wards shifted his flag into the Foudroyant of 80 guns, to
which ship Captain Hardy also removed. In the ensuing
Bummer the Rear- Admiral went to Naples ; and, as his royal
guest was pleased to say, " reconquered his kingdom, and
placed him upon his throne."

Captain Hardy continued to command the Foudroyant till
Oct. 12, 1799; When Captain Berry having joined from Eng-
land, he was appointed, 'pro tempore, to the Princess Char-
lotte frigate. On his return from the Mediterranean, he was
introduced by letter to Nelson's august friend, the Duke of
Clarence, and recommended to the notice of His Royal High*
ness, " as an officer of the most distinguished merit"

Our officer subsequently served as Flag-Captain to Lord
Nelson, in the Namur, San Josef, and St. George, the latter
forming part of the fleet destined to dissolve the Northern
Confederacy. The particulars of the sanguinary battle off
Copenhagen, April 2, 1801, have already been given, under
the head of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Foley * j to which we
have only to add, that during the preceding night, Captain
Hardy was employed sounding the channel, and ascertaining
the bearing of the eastern end of the Middle Ground, the
greatest obstacle, as it afterwards proved, that the British
had to contend with in their approach towards the Danish
line of defence. On this occasion he rowed in his boat to the
enemy's leading ship, sounding round her, and using a pole
when he was apprehensive of being heard. On his return to
the Elephant, into which ship Lord Nelson had removed, for
the purpose of more immediately superintending the opera-
tions of his division, Captain Hardy reported the practicabi-
lity of the channel, and the depth of water up to the Danish
line : had his report been abided by, instead of confiding in
the masters and pilots, the latter of whom were in general
mates of vessels trading from the ports of Scotland and north

* See Vol. 1. note at p, 365, et seq.

156 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. y

of England to the Baltic, there can be no doubt that those
ships which unfortunately took the ground would have reached
the several stations assigned to them, and thus been spared
the mortification of remaining exposed to the fire from the
Crown-batteries, without being able to render that effectual
support to their companions which they wished.

On the 4th of April Lord Nelson landed at Copenhagen,
accompanied by Captains Freemantle and Hardy, and received
all possible attention from the Crown Prince. A strong guard
secured his Lordship's safety, and appeared necessary to keep
off the mob, whose rage, although mixed with admiration at
his thus trusting himself amongst them, was naturally to be
expected. The events of the 2d, had plunged the whole town
into a state of terror, astonishment, and mourning : the oldest
inhabitant had never before seen a shot fired in anger at his
native country. The battle of that day, and the return of the
wounded to the care of their friends on the 3d, were certainly
not events that could induce the Danish nation to receive
their conqueror with much cordiality. It perhaps savoured
of rashness in Lord Nelson thus early to risk himself amongst
them ; but with him his country's cause was paramount to
all personal consideration. .

Sir Hyde Parker, having left those ships which were the
most disabled in the late conflict, under the care of Lord
Nelson, whose flag was again flying on board the St. George,
proceeded with the rest of his fleet up the Baltic, for the
purpose of chastising the Russians and Swedes. The sudden
death of the Emperor Paul, however, which was immediately
followed by pacific overtures from his successor, the present
Czar, prevented the farther effusion of blood ; and early in
the month of May, Sir Hyde resigned the command to Nel-
son, who subsequently visited Revel and Rostock, at which
latter place he received a visit from the Duke of Mecklenburgh
Strelitz, brother to the consort of his late Majesty. The bad
state of his Lordship's health, however, compelled him to apply
for leave to return to England ; and, about the middle of
June, he was succeeded in the command of the Baltic fleet by
his worthy friend Sir C. M. Pole, who remained on that sta-
tion till the latter end of July j when, there being no longer

POST-CAPTArNS OP 1798. 157

any occasion for so powerful a force there, he returned from
thence in the St. George *.

Soon after Captain Hardy's arrival in England he was ap-
pointed to the Isis of 50 guns ; and in the spring of the fol-
lowing year he conveyed H. R. H. the late Duke of Kent to
Gibraltar. He next commanded the Amphion of 32 guns,
and carried out Lord R. Fitzgerald on an embassy to the
Court of Portugal. The Amphion returned to Spithead from
Lisbon, Dec. 10, 1802.

It was on the 16th May, 1803, that a royal message to
both Houses of Parliament announced a fresh rupture with
France. The eyes of the British public were instantly di-
rected toward their invincible Admiral; and, agreeably to the
national wish, Lord Nelson was immediately appointed to
the chief command of the Mediterranean fleet. His Lordship
sailed for that station in the Victory of 100 guns, accompa-
nied by Captain Hardy in the Amphion ; and on his arrival
off Brest shifted his flag to that frigate, where it remained
till he was rejoined by the Victory off Toulon at the latter
end of July f. From this period till the termination of that
hero's glorious career, Captain Hardy was his constant com-
panion.

The particulars of Lord Nelson's memorable excursion to
the West Indies, will be found under the head of Sir Pulteney
Malcolm, in a note at p. 589, et seq. of our first volume; at
the conclusion of which we left his Lordship returning to
Spithead, filled with mortification on account of the combined
squadrons of France arid Spain having eluded his vigilance^.

* Previous to Lord Nelson's departure from the Baltic, he received in-
structions to invest Rear-Admiral Graves, who had so ably seconded him
in the late battle, with the Order of the Bath. This ceremony was per-
formed with all possible dignity, June 14th, on the quarter-deck of the
St. George,
t See Vol. I. p. 833.

J The reader is requested to make the following corrections in the note
alluded to above : p. 590, lines 24 and 25, for William Gordon Rutherford,
read Mark Robinson : p. 591, line 20 /ram bottom, for tee, read he; tine
14 from bottom, after 1 9th, insert June.

N. B. Rear Admiral George Murray was Lord Nelson's first captain .
The Northumberland and Spartiate were the two ships which joined his
Lordship at Barbadoes ; the former was left on her station when he re-
turned to Europe.

158 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

Towards the end of August 1805, Captain Blackwood of the
Euryalus arrived at the Admiralty, with intelligence of the
enemy having put into Cadiz, where they were watched by
Vice- Admiral Collingwood ; and on the 14th of the following
month, Lord Nelson again embarked on board the Victory,
The scene is described as having been singularly affecting-
He was followed to the beach by numbers of the inhabitants
of Portsmouth in tears, many of whom knelt down before
him and blessed the beloved hero of the British nation. The
affectionate heart of Nelson could not but sympathise with
the general interest that his countrymen took in his welfiare,
and turning round to Captain Hardy, he said, " I had their
huzzas before — / have now their hearts." The Victory
weighed on the 15th, at day-break, and, accompanied by the
Euryalus, worked down Channel against contrary and strong
gales.

After encountering much blowing weather, his Lordship
arrived off Cadiz on the 29th Sept. j and from that day till the
21st Oct. never came in sight of land, in order that the enemy
might be kept in ignorance of his force : the wisdom of this
plan was strongly proved by subsequent events. The French
commander-in-chief, M. Villeneuve, repeatedly declared his
belief that Nelson, by detaching six sail of the line to the
Mediterranean, had reduced the British fleet so much as
to render it one-third weaker than those of France and
Spain*1.

We now come to the great and terrible day of the battle,
When, as it has been well expressed, " God gave us victory,
but Nelson died." The two columns of the British fleet, led
on by the commander-in-chief and his worthy second, the
gallant Collingwood, advanced with light airs and all sail set,
towards the van and centre of the enemy ; the former steering
for the bow of the huge Santissima Trinidada, the latter
cutting through their line astern of another Spanish first-rate.
The succeeding ships of each column vied with each other in
following their leaders' example. The enemy at first dis-
played considerable coolness j and, as the Victory approached,
such of their ships as were a-head of her, and on her bows,

•

• For the respective force of the hostile fleets, see Vol. I, pp. 205^-6.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798. 159

frequently fired single guns, in order to ascertain whether
she was within range. A shot having passed through her
main-top-gallant-sail, they opened a tremendous fire, by
which the Victory had about 20 men killed, and 30 others
wounded, before she returned a shot. Her spars, sails, and
rigging, were also much injured ; when at length she opened
her larboard guns on the combined van. Captain Hardy soon
afterwards informed his chief that it would be impossible to
break through their line, without running on board the Santis-
sima Trinidada or the Bucentaure (the latter a French 80-gun
ship, bearing the flag of M. Villeneuve), and begged to know
which he would prefer. t( Take your choice, Hardy," re«
plied the hero, " it does not much signify which.'* The
helm was now put a-port, and a raking fire poured into the
aterns of those ships ; after which, and being raked herself by
the Neptune, a French 74, the Victory, in the act of coming
to the wind, fell on board the Redoubtable 74 ; which ship,
after discharging a broadside, let down her lower-deck ports,
probably that she might not be boarded through them ; nor
were they again opened. Some time after this the Fougueux,
another French 74, ran foul of the Temeraire, which ship had
been previously lashed to the Redoubtable on her starboard
side: so that the extraordinary and unprecedented circumstance
occurred, of four ships of the line being on board of each
other in the heat of battle, forming almost as compact a tier
as if they had been moored together, their heads all lying
nearly in the same direction,

In the first heat of the action, Mr. Scott, the Admiral's
Secretary, was killed by a cannon-shot, whilst in conversa-
tion with Captain Hardy. A few minutes afterwards a shot
struck the fore-brace bits, and passing between Lord Nelson
and Captain Hardy, drove some splinters about them, one of
which bruised the foot of the latter officer, and tore the
buckle from his shoe. They mutually looked at each other,
when Nelson smiled and said, " This is too ivarm work to
last, Hardy." His Lordship also at this time noticed the
coolness displayed by his crew, and declared, that in all his
battles he had seen nothing that could surpass it.

The Redoubtable, in lieu of her great guns, kept up a heavy
fire of musketry from her decks and tops, by which alone

160 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

the Victory had upwards of 40 men killed and wounded. About
an hour and a quarter after the commencement of the battle,
Lord Nelson and Captain Hardy were observed to be walking
near the middle of the quarter-deck : the Admiral had just
commended the manner in which one of the British ships near
him was fought : Captain Hardy advanced from him to give
some necessary directions j and his Lordship was in the act of
turning near the hatchway, with his face towards the stern,
when a musket-ball struck him on the left shoulder, and en-
tering through the epaulet, passed through the spine, and
lodged in the muscles of the back, towards the right side.
He instantly fell with his face on the deck, in the very place
that was covered with the blood of his Secretary. Captain
Hardy, on turning round, saw .three men raising him.
" Hardy" said his Lordship, " / believe they have done it at
last ; my back bone is shot through"

An extraordinary instance of his Lordship's presence of
mind when in the arms of death, is related by Dr. Beatty,
who has still in his possession the fatal ball which terminated
the existence of the greatest naval commander that ever
breathed. " While the men were carrying him down the
ladder from the middle-deck, his Lordship observed that the
tiller-ropes were not yet replaced, and desired one of the Mid-
shipmen stationed there to go upon the quarter-deck, and
remind Captain Hardy of that circumstance, and request that
new ones should be immediately rove. Having delivered this
order, he took his handkerchief from his pocket, and covered
his face with it, that he might be conveyed to the cockpit at
this crisis unknown to the crew." When the Surgeon had
executed his melancholy office of ascertaining the direction of
the ball, expressed the general feeling that prevailed on the
occasion, and repeatedly been urged by the Admiral to go
and attend to the other wounded officers and men, he re-
luctantly obeyed, but continued to return at intervals. As
the blood flowed internally from the wound, the lower cavity
of the body gradually filled ; his Lordship therefore con-
stantly desired Mr. Burke, the Purser, to raise him, and, com-
plaining of an excessive thirst, was supplied with lemonade
by the Rev. Mr. Scott. In this state of suffering his noble
spirit remained unsubdued. His mind continued intent on

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 161

the great object that was always before him, his duty to his
country ; he therefore anxiously inquired for Captain Hardy,
to know whether the annihilation of the enemy might be de-
pended on j but it was upwards of an hour before our officer
could, at so critical a period, leave the deck, and Lord Nelson
became apprehensive that his brave associate was dead. The
crew of the Victory were now heard to cheer, and he anxiously
demanded the cause; when Lieutenant Pasco, who lay
wounded near him, said that one of their opponents had
struck. A gleam of devout joy lighted up the countenance of
Nelson ; and as the crew repeated their cheers, and marked
the progress of his victory, his satisfaction visibly encreased.
" Will no one," exclaimed he, " bring Hardy to me? He
must be killed j I am certain he is dead." His wishes were
at length gratified ; Captain Hardy soon afterwards descended
to the cockpit, and anxiously strove to conceal the feelings
with which he had been struggling. " How does the day go
with us, Hardy ?" " Ten ships, my Lord, have struck."
" But none of ours, I hope ? " " There is no fear, my dear
Lord, of that. Five of their van have tacked, and shew an
intention of bearing down upon us ; but I have called some
of our fresh ships around the Victory, and have no doubt of
your complete success." Having said this, he found himself
unable any longer to suppress the yearnings of a brave and
affectionate heart, and hurried away for a time to conceal the
bitterness of his sorrow.

For about fifteen minutes after Lord Nelson received his
mortal wound, the Redoubtable continued to sustain the fire
of the two British 3-deckers, she herself pouring in constant
discharges of musketry upon the decks of her antagonists.
To obviate the danger of the Temeraire's suffering from the
Victory's shot passing through the French ship, the star-
board guns of the former were depressed, and fired with a
diminished charge of powder, and three shot each, into the
enemy. The larboard guns ofthe Victory were occasionally
used in returning the fire of the Santissima Trinidada, Bucen-
taure, and other ships in the van, from whose shot, during
the progress of the battle, she received considerable injury.

At length, after having been twice in flames herself,
and by throwing combustibles occasioned a fire among

VOL. II. M

102 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1796.

some ropes and canvas on the Victory's booms, the Redoubt-
able, having lost her bowsprit, main and mizen-masts, and
rbre-top-mast, and being, as we may readily imagine, in a
dreadfully shattered condition, ceased her opposition and
surrendered.

Towards the close of the combat, Captain Hardy again
visited the cockpit, and reported to his dying chief the num-
ber of ships that had struck. " God be praised, Hardy ! "
replied the expiring hero ; " bring the fleet to an anchor."
The delicacy of Captain Hardy's situation, there being no
Captain of the Fleet*, was peculiarly embarrassing; and,
with as much feeling as the subject would admit of, he hinted
at the command devolving on Vice- Admiral Collingwood.
Nelson, feeling the vast importance of the fleet being brought
to anchor, and with the ruling passion of his soul predomi-
nant in death, replied somewhat indignantly, " not whilst I
live, I hope, Hardy; " and vainly endeavouring, at the mo-
ment, to raise himself on the pallet, " Do you," said he,
" bring the fleet to anchor." Captain Hardy was returning
to the quarter-deck, when the Admiral called him back and
delivered his last injunctions*, desiring, among other matters
of a private nature, that his body might be carried home, and,
unless his Sovereign should otherwise command it, be buried
by the side of his parents. He then took his faithful follower
by the hand, and observing, that he would most probably not
see him again alive, desired Captain Hardy to kiss him, that
he might seal their long friendship with that affection which
pledged sincerity in death. Captain Hardy stood for a few
minutes in silent agony over the body of him he so truly re-
garded, and then kneeling dbwn, again kissed his forehead :
" Who is that ? " said the dying warrior: " It is Hardy, my
Lord." "God bless you, Hardy," replied Nelson feebly, and
shortly after added, " I wish I had not left the deck, I shall
soon be gone; " his voice then gradually became inarticu-
late, with an evident increase of pain : when, after a feeble
struggle, these last words were distinctly heard, — " I HAVE

* Rear-Admiral George Murray, who had formerly filled the honorable
post of Captaia of the Fleet, having occasion to remain in England to settle
some family affairs, left his Lordship on his return from the West Indies.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798. 163

DONE MY DUTY, I PRAISE GOD tfOR IT." Having said this,
he turned his face towards Mr. Burke, on whose arm he had
been supported ; and great as must have been his previous
sufferings, expired without a struggle or a groan, at half-past
four o'clock, just three hours and a quarter after he had re-
ceived the fatal wound, and about fifteen minutes after Cap-
tain Hardy left him *.

According to the official statements, the total loss sus-
tained by the Victory in this ever memorable combat, was 57
killed and Jb wounded ; but, according to Dr. Beatty's Nar-
rative, the real number of wounded was 102 ; 27 men having
reported themselves too late to be included in the returns f.

The Victory having been made sea-worthy at Gibraltar,
where she arrived seven days after the battle, passed through
the Straits during the night of the 4th of November, and
the next day at noon joined Vice-Admiral Collingwood off
Cadiz. Captain Hardy parted company in the evening, and
stood for England. The body of Lord Nelson had been pre-
served with the greatest care and attention by the Surgeon ;
at first in brandy, and afterwards, on arriving at Gibraltar,
where a sufficient quantity could be procured, with a portion
of spirits of wine mixed with brandy. After a long and me-
lancholy passage, the Victory arrived at St. Helen's on the
4th December, when the Port-Admiral made the signal for
the ships at Spithead and in Portsmouth harbour to strike
their colours half-mast. The recollection how lately she had
sailed, bearing the flag of that great Admiral, whose remains

* A short time previous to the commencement of the battle, Captains
Blackwood and Hardy witnessed Lord Nelson's will. To the latter officer
his Lordship bequeathed a small legacy, and all his telescopes.

f It is said to have been the intention of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, to
have sent the body of Lord Nelson home in the Euryalus frigate, until a
very strong reluctance was manifested by the crew of the Victory to part
with so valuable a relic, to which they felt almost an exclusive claim : they
remonstrated through one of their boatswain's mates, against the removal,
upon a ground that could not be resisted : he said, " the noble Admiral
had fought with them, and fell on their own deck j that if, by being put ou
board a frigate, his body should fall into the hands of the enemy, it would
make their loss doubly grievous to them ; and, therefore, that they were
one and all resolved to carry it safely to England, or to go to the bottom
along with it themselves."

M 2

164 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

she now brought home to his country for burial, rendered her
an object of the greatest interest. Her shattered and dis-
mantled state declared the fury of the battle in which the hero
fell, and her decks were still stained with the blood of those
who had avenged his death. She had received 86 shot be-
tween wind and water. Her fore and main-masts had been
very badly wounded, and were filled with musket-balls ; she
had a jury mizen-mast and jury fore and main-top-masts ; and
many round shot were to be seen in her bowsprit and bows.

On the llth Dec. Captain Hardy sailed from Spithead for
the Nore, but did not reach the Downs till the 17th. On the
22d the Victory was met by a yatch sent from Sheerness with
the York Herald and Mr. Tyson, formerly Secretary to the
deceased Admiral, to receive the corpse. In the evening, when
they got on board, and had declared the purpose for which
they came, a general gloom and impressive silence pervaded
the whole ship. On the coffin being lowered down from the
Victory, the flag of Nelson, which had been flying half-mast
high ever since the battle, was struck, and immediately sent on
board the yacht, where it was again hoisted in the same fu-
nereal manner.

In the evening of the 24th the body was landed at Green-
wich, and depo'sited in the Record-room of the Royal Hos-
pital, preparatory to its lying in state in the Painted Hall.
The Victory proceeded to Chatham, where she was soon after
put out of commission for the purpose of being repaired.

On the 9th Jan. 1806, the day on which the remains of
Lord Nelson were interred in the Cathedral Church of St.
Paul's, Captain Hardy bore the Banner of Emblems before
the relations of the deceased. In the following month he was
created a Baronet of Great Britain ; and in the ensuing spring
appointed to the Triumph of 74 guns, on the Halifax station.
He subsequently served under the orders of the late Admiral
Berkeley, at Lisbon; and in 1811, the Portuguese Govern-
ment conferred upon him the rank of a Chief-of-Division in
the royal armada of Portugal, doubling at the same tune the
pay attached to that appointment.

In August 1812, Sir Thomas M. Hardy obtained the com-
mand of the Ramillies, another third rate ; and towards the
close of the same year, proceeded in that ship to reinforce

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1798. 165

the fleet on the coast of North America. During the sum-
mer of 1813, he commanded a squadron employed off New
London, watching two frigates and a sloop of war belonging to
the United States. On the 25th June a boat was sent from the
Ramillies to cut off a schooner, which was making for that
harbour. She was taken possession of about eleven o'clock,
the crew having deserted her after letting go her only anchor.
The officer of the boat brought the prize near the Ramillies,
and informed Sir Thomas Hardy that she was laden with pro-
visions and naval stores. Very fortunately for the ship he com-
manded, SirThomas ordered the schooner to be taken alongside
a trading sloop which had been captured a few days before ;
for while they were in the act of securing her, about half past
two o'clock, she blew up with a tremendous explosion, and a
Lieutenant (Geddes) and ten valuable seamen lost their lives.
It was afterwards ascertained, that this schooner, the Eagle,
of New York, was fitted out by two merchants of that place,
induced by the American government offering half the value
of the British ships of war so destroyed, for the express pur-
pose of burning the Ramillies ; and hearing that that ship
was short of provisions and stores, they placed some in the
hatch-way hoping thereby to induce Sir Thomas Hardy to
take her alongside. Under the provisions were deposited
several casks of gun-powder, with trains leading to a maga-
zine, which was fitted upon the same mechanical principles
as clock-work. When it had run the time given to it by the
winder- up, it gave force to a sort of gun-lock. The explosion
of the vessel, and the destruction of all that might be near it,
was the end proposed. *We shall not attempt to comment on
an act, the success of which would have hurled so many
hundred persons as were on board the Ramillies into eternity ;
every friend of humanity rejoiced at its failure.

Towards the conclusion of the war with America, Sir
Thomas M. Hardy, in conjunction with a detachment of the
army under Lieutenant-Colonel Pilkington, took possession
of the islands in Passamaquoddy Bay. He also bombarded
the town of Stonington, which had been conspicious in pre-
paring and harbouring torpedoes, and giving assistance to the
enemy's attempts at the destruction of the British ships of
war stationed off New London^

166 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

At the enlargement of the Order of the Bath, Jan. 2,
Sir Thomas M. Hardy was nominated a K. C. B. ; audio
July, 1816, he obtained the command of a royal yatch. He
was appointed to the Superb of 78 guns, Nov. 30, 1818 ; and
in the following year hoisted a broad pendant in that ship, as
Commodore of the squadron employed in South America ;
from which station he has returned since the first part of
this memoir went to the press.

Of the nature of the service on the coast of South America,
so little is generally known that a slight sketch of it may not
be without interest to some of our readers.

Owing to the unacknowledged political existence of the
South American governments, they have been diplomatically
neglected by European nations ; we at least have hitherto
had no Ambassador there, no Consuls, nor indeed any public
authorities whatever. But as the commerce of those countries,
upon being freed from the Spanish yoke, became at once con-
siderable, and was rapidly increasing ; and as many British
merchants were resident there, and much British capital float-
ing about, it became necessary that some protection should
be afforded to those interests, and a watchful eye kept over
the proceedings of States which, though still in a state of
infancy, were nevertheless respectable from their wealth and
extent.

As it had ever been usual to station men of war wherever
commerce was in activity, there was nothing novel, or
calculated to excite jealousy, in having a squadron in South
America. The duties of this squadron became important in
proportion as the new States, feeling their growing strength,
were inclined to give trouble, either by new and oppressive
commercial laws, or by interfering with the personal liberty,
and sometimes by. detaining the ships, of our countrymen.
Many of the countries of which we are speaking were, it
must be recollected, in a state of war. Some of their ports
were blockaded, and every source of jealousy and distrust
let loose. Others had more than one government — and the
consequent confusion was greatly augmented by the eager-
ness of commercial speculation, which led many individuals
to despise all prudence, and all local regulations, in order, at
every hazard, to force their trade : this was naturally follow-

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 167

ed by seizures, confiscations, and a long train of appeals. The
governments too, were often ignorant of what was cus-
tomary, and generally obstinate ; but not infrequently they
were right — and our own countrymen not easily defended.
Under these circumstances the greatest temper and judgment,
and the nicest arrangement, were necessary ; but it is scarcely
possible, without entering into long details, to afford a just
conception of the effective manner in which those complicated
duties were conducted by Sir Thomas Hardy.

It will be easily understood why services of this nature are
not suited to strike the public eye in a Gazette ; but it is cer-
tainly to be lamented, that the successful exercise of such
qualities should be confined to the knowledge of a few officers
whom accident had placed within its view, and be utterly
unknown to the public, and to the body of the naval service,
to whom the example is of so much consequence. These
things are the more worthy of remark from their requiring
an exertion of powers very different from those which it has
heretofore been almost the exclusive duty of officers to che-
rish. ' Yet it is pleasing to think that the qualities of patient
forbearance and of conciliatory kindness may, at times, prove
as useful to the public service, as the more energetic talents
of enterprise and action. In South America, indeed, where
we were at peace, any shew of violence must have been mis-
chievous to the British interests, and could have accomplished
nothing. Yet there was no want of provocation, for injustice
was often committed, and the national honor, it might seem,
sometimes threatened ; and although there could not be for
a moment a question, that these things required adequate
redress, yet there was no ordinary skill and dexterity displayed
in the way in which it was sought and obtained, so as to leave
things better for us than before. These cases were scarcely
ever alike, so that experience did little more than teach the
truth and solidity of the principles, by which our conduct was
regulated. Had we always had right on our siderthat is, had
the commercial transactions which we had to protect always
been pure, and the displeasure of the governments always
unjust, it would have been easier ; but it sometimes happened
otherwise. Many prizes, or rather detentions, were made by
the Patriot squadrons, on the strongly supported plea of

168 .POST-CAPTAINS OP 1796.

having Spanish property on board — British sailors reported
that they had been forcibly detained, and made to fight
against the allies of their country — Masters and Supercargoes
of ships said they had been plundered on the high seas, under
the form of local usage and regular duties. — Englishmen re-
presented themselves as being unjustly imprisoned — each
party charged us with favoring their opponents — the crews of
ships, taking advantage of the general state of confusion, mu-
tinied and refused to do their duty : — in short, all was out of
order, nothing was flowing in its natural course, every thing
being, in fact, under the guidance of men whose bad passions
were at their height, and whose minds wej:e in such a frame,
that they interpreted every thing in the worst language it
would bear. This dislocation of society was not confined to
a single port, or a single state, but extended, with more or
less distraction, over the whole continent, threatening all
social order and security of persons, as well as destruction to
the great mass of commerce which, notwithstanding the for-
bidding aspect of affairs, was always ready to flow in at every
casual opening, in spite of all prudence and experience.

At a tune when very few, if any other man, saw his way
clearly through this dark and troubled prospect, Sir Thomas
Hardy appears never to have faltered, or been at a loss ; and
this confidence, as he sought on every occasion to impress on
the minds of his officers, consisted principally, he told them,
in then* being totally pure and disinterested personally hi all
that was going on — in maintaining themselves, above all,
free from political party spirit on every hand ; and whatever
seeming provocation might arise, never to consider that any
disrespect was intentional, unless it were obvious ; to be
slow, in short, to take offence, national or personal, unless
it could not be mistaken ; and in every consequent explana-
tion to recollect, that voluntary acknowledgment, however
trifling, was always better than any whatsoever that was
compulsory. When decision and firmness, however, became
necessary, as they sometimes did, the different governments
and their servants, speedily learnt that nobody could be more
immoveably resolute than he was ; and yet the sentiment
which his private habits and public conduct had inspired, not
only amongst the Spaniards and the native powers, but

.POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 169

amongst the strangers, who from motives of gain had sought
that country, was of a far kindlier nature ; and it was essen-
tially owing to this circumstance, that his influence became
so commanding and extensive. He was trusted everywhere,
and enjoyed in a wonderful degree the confidence and esteem
of all parties whatsoever: his advice, which was never ob-
truded, was never suspected ; and a thousand bitter disputes
were at once settled amicably, and to the advantage of all
parties, by a mere word of his, instead of being driven into
what are called national questions, to last for years, and lead
to no useful end. When this respect and confidence had
once become fully established, every thing went on so
smoothly under his vigilant auspices, that it was those only
who chanced to be placed near the scene, who could perceive
the extent, or appreciate the importance, of the public good
which he was silently dispensing — as in a well-steered ship,
a stranger is unconscious how much he owes to the operation
of the helm, or how much merit belongs to the hand which,
unseen, guides the motions of the whole. It is on this ac-
count that we have dwelt so long on services which, unlike
his former exploits in war, do not speak for themselves, but
which are nevertheless in the highest degree entitled to public
gratitude, and are moat worthy of professional imitation.

Sir Thomas M. Hardy married Anne Louisa Emily, a
daughter of the late Admiral Hon. Sir George C. Berkeley,
G. C. B., niece of the late Duke of Richmond, and sister to
the Countess of Euston.

Agents, — Messrs. Cooke,* Halford, and Son.

WILLIAM CUMBERLAND, ESQ.

THIS officer is a son of Mr. Cumberland the celebrated
dramatist, a memoir of whom will be found in the first vo-
lume of a work entitled " Public Characters." He was
made a Lieutenant in 1790 ; commanded the Fly sloop of
war in 1797 j and obtained the rank of Post-Captain Nov. 8,
1798. During the late war he commanded la Pique frigate,
the Leyden and Stately 64's, and Saturn, a third rate. La
Pique, in company with the Pelican sloop of war, took pos-
session of le Goalan, a French brig of 18 guns, and an armed

170 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

cutter, at, the evacuation of Aux Cayes, St. Domingo, in Oct.
1803 ; the Leyden formed part of Admiral Gambier's fleet at
the capture of the Danish navy in 1807- Towards the latter
end of the war, we find him regulating the impress service at
Cowes, in the Isle of Wight.

Captain Cumberland married, in 1800, a daughter of the
late Charles Pym Hurt, Esq., of Albemarle Street, London.

GRAHAM EDEN HAMOND, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath ; and a
Deputy-Lieutenant of the Isle of flight.

THIS officer is the son of Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, Bart,
whose services we have related at p. 54, et seq. of this volume.
He was born in London, Dec. 30, 1779 j and after serving
for some time on board the different guard-ships commanded
by his father, joined the Phaeton frigate, commanded by his
cousin, the late Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, which was the
first vessel sent out to cruise against the enemy, and give pro-
tection to British commerce, at the commencement of the war
with France, in 1793.

Amongst the captures made by the Phaeton during that
year, were le General Dumourier, a French privateer of 22
guns and 196 men, having on board 2,040,000 dollars ; her
prize the St. Jago, laden with bark, copper, and bides, worth
nearly 300,000/. sterling * ; la Prompte, a small French fri-
gate of 28 guns and 180 men; a privateer of 16 guns and
60 men j and the Blonde, a national ship mounting 24 guns.

In April 1794, Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, who had pre-
viously worn a distinguishing pendant, and commanded all the
frigates of Earl Howe's fleet, formed into a separate squadron,
was appointed his Lordship's Captain, in the Queen Charlotte,
to which ship Mr. Hamond was also removed. In a letter writ-
tenby the former to his uncle the Comptroller, about this period,

• See Vol. I. note f, at p. 757. N. B. Le General Dumourier and the
St. Jago were first discovered from the Phaeton's raain-top-gallanUnast-
head, by Mr. Hamond. The remainder of Rear-Admiral GelPs squadron
joined in the pursuit ; but &ey were both overtaken and captured by the
Phaeton.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 1/1

he says, " That I will take care of my friend Graham us long-
as I live, you may rest assured; and I flatter myself his
going into the Queen Charlotte with me will be no disadvan-
tage to him in point of education. He is vastly well, and
nobody can conduct himself better than he does in every
respect."

In the Queen Charlotte Mr. Hamond witnessed the recap-
ture of his Majesty's ship Castor, and part of the Lisbon
fleet, which had been taken whilst under her protection; the
destruction of a French national cutter ; and the capture
of a corvette and a brig of war. He also had the honor of
sharing in the glorious battle of June 1, 1794, on which
occasion his gallant relative received a severe wound, from
the effects of which he never recovered*.

On the 30th Dec. in the same year, Mr. Hamond was re-
moved into the Princess Augusta yacht, then fitting at Dept-
ford, for the purpose of conveying the Princess Caroline of
Brunswick to England ; and about a month afterwards, from
that vessel to the Jupiter of 50 guns, bearing the broad pen-
dant of Commodore Payne, who commanded the ships se-
lected to escort H. S. H. from Cuxhavenf. Previous,
however, to the final departure of the squadron from the
Nore, Mr. Hamond was ordered back to the Queen Charlotte,
and very soon after appointed to act as a Lieutenant in the
Aquilon frigate, where he continued about three months.
He subsequently joined the Zealous 74, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Dickson, and about to sail for the Mediter-
ranean ; but being detained *by contrary winds, he obtained
permission to proceed thither across the continent, by which
means he was enabled to join the British fleet just after the
partial action off Frejus, July 13, 1795, and time enough to
witness the blowing up of 1'Alcide, a French 74 £. On the
23d of the same month he was appointed junior Lieutenant
of Vice-Admiral Hotham's flag-ship, the Britannia of 100
guns. His commission was confirmed by the Admiralty,
Oct. 19th following.

Lieutenant Hamond remained in the Britannia until July

* See note at p. 54. f See Vol. I. note J at p. 353, et scy.
I See Vol. I. jiote at p. 254.

172 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

1796, when he was sent in the Flora frigate to join 1'Aigle off
Tunis. The latter ship, under the command of* Captain
(now Sir Charles) Tyler, was afterwards employed co-ope-
rating with the Austrian army between Trieste and Venice ;
and on her return from that service in February 1797* to join
Sir John Jervis, was twice chased by the Spanish fleet.
On the l()th of the following month Lieutenant Hamond re-
moved into the Niger, another frigate, commanded by the
present Vice-Admiral Foote, with whom he served till Octo-
ber 1798 ; on the 20th of which month he was made a Com-
mander, and appointed to the Echo, a new sloop of 18 guns,
fitting at Deptford.

In this vessel, Captain Hamond escorted a fleet of mer-
chantmen to Elsineur, and from thence convoyed the home-
ward bound Baltic trade to the mouth of the Thames. He
was afterwards sent to cruise on the coast of Holland, where
he destroyed a French cutter privateer, and assisted at the
capture of thirty large Dutch fishing vessels, which were seized
in order to prevent then* being employed in the threatened
invasion of England. In May 1798, he conveyed Prince
Frederick of Orange from Yarmouth to Cuxhaven, and re-
ceived the thanks of H. S. H. for the attention he had paid to
him during the voyage.

The Echo continued on the North Sea station until Sept.
following, when Captain Hamond was ordered to convoy the
trade bound to Halifax and Quebec 100 leagues west of Cape
Clear. After performing this service he went to Marcou with
reinforcements for the garrison, and then proceeded to join
the squadron blockading Havre ; off which port he remained
till the beginning of December, when he returned to Spithead,
and found himself promoted to the command of the Champion,
a post-ship, by commission dated Nov. 3, 1798.

During the ensuing year, Captain Hamond was succes-
sively employed convoying a fleet of merchant vessels to the
Elbe ; guarding the mouths of that river and the Weser, to
prevent the enemy's gun-boats from entering ; cruising off
Norway ; carrying money from the Thames to the British
army in Holland ; and watching the return of the trade from
Archangel, This latter, owing to the advanced season of the
year, proved a very severe service, the Champion's station

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 173

being from 66° to 70° North latitude. On his return to port,
he received information that a foreign ship of war was on the
coast in distress ; he immediately went to her assistance, and
after much difficulty succeeded in towing the stranger, a
Russian 74 totally dismasted, with an Admiral on board, safe
into Leith Roads. On the 26th June preceding, being'off the
Dudgeon light on his way to Yarmouth, for the purpose of
getting a new rudder, the old one being disabled, he discover-
ed an enemy's cruiser in the midst of near 200 coasting ves-
sels and colliers. No time was lost in giving chase to the
marauder, whilst a boat was lowered and recaptured two
English brigs. The pursuit continued during the night ; and
the following day being calm, the sails were furled and every
exertion made with the sweeps and boats towing to come up
with the enemy j but it was not until the evening of the 28th,
with the assistance of a fresh breeze, that this could be ef-
fected. She proved to be the famous French privateer Ana-
creon of 16 guns, a vessel which bad done incalculable mis-
chief to our commercial interests.

In March 1800 the Champion convoyed a fleet to Gibraltar,
and from thence took several transports laden with ordnance
stores, and a battering train, to Malta. On his passage up
the Mediterranean, Captain Hamond fell in with an Algerine
squadron, which at first shewed symptoms of hostility, and,
considering the valuable charge he had, rendered his situation
by no means pleasant. Soon after discovering the British
vessels, the Algerines, whosre force consisted of a 36-gun
frigate, two xebecs each mounting 24 guns, and three armed
polacres, all full of men, hauled to the wind and displayed the
flags of three Admirals, Upon the Champion showing her
colours they bore up together, with their rigging, yards, and
boarding ladders hanging from each yard arm, lined with men.
On arriving within gun-shot they again hauled their wind,
each Admiral hoisting an English jack, and firing three guns,
the greatest number they ever gave as a salute. The Cham-
pion in return hoisted an Algerine jack, and saluted them with
three guns.

Had these pirates determined to search the British vessels,
Captain Hamond was fully prepared to give them a warm
reception ; but, considering their immense superiority, it is

174 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

more than probable his resistance would have been unavailing;
and had they discovered such a booty of ordnance stores, it
is not to be imagined that any moral reasoning on his part,
would have prevented their taking the whole to Algiers.
The same squadron afterwards fell in with an English frigate
off Cape Bona, and would not allow her to proceed until her
commander had sent his commission on board for their
inspection.

Captain Hamond was subsequently employed conveying
the officers and crew of the Guillaume Tell, a French 80-gun
ship *, to Minorca ; assisting at the blockade of Malta, and
occasionally serving on shore at the siege of Valette ; but at
length his health being much impaired by the extreme heat
of the climate, he was obliged to return home ; for which pur-
pose he exchanged ships with Lord William Stuart, of the
Lion 64, July 27, 1800, and proceeded in her to Port Mahon,
from whence he conveyed Major-General Craddock and part
of the 40th regiment to Gibraltar, where he was charged by
Lord Keith with despatches for England. The Lion was paid
off Nov. 18, 180fr; and on the following day he commission,
ed the Blanche, a new 36-gun frigate ; which ship, after being
fitted and manned, was ordered to join the armament under
Sir Hyde Parker, then at Yarmouth, and about to sail for
the Baltic.

On the 19th March, 1801, Captain Hamond was sent on to
Elsineur with a flag of truce, and despatches for Mr. Drum-
mond:, the British Minister at Copenhagen. After a delay of
two days at the former place, all hopes of accommodation with
the Danes being at an end, that gentleman, with the whole
British Factory, were received on board the Blanche, and car-
ried to the fleet afi the entrance of the Sound.

In the ensuing battle with the Danish line of defence
before Copenhagen f , the Blanche was anchored by the stern
between the Amazon and Alcmene frigates, abreast of the
Great Crown battery, under the fire of which formidable
work she continued nearly two hours. Her loss consisted of
7 men killed and 9 severely wounded. Her hull and rigging
were also ranch cut up £.

* S«e VoL I. p. 3/8. t See Vol. I. note * at p. 365, et seq.
\ From the circumstance of her grounding the preceding evening, near

POST- CAPTAINS OF IJ98.

Lord Nelson behaved very kindly to Captain Hamond
when he saw him on board his flag-ship after the battle, and
was pleased to say, he would never forget him as long as
he lived. On the following Sunday our officer held his Lord-
ship's prayer book whilst he returned thanks to Almighty
God, for the victory which under the Divine auspices had
been achieved by the British arms.

The Blanche returned to England with the flag of Sir
Hyde Parker, who landed at Yarmouth on the 13th May.
During the remainder of the war she was attached to the
Channel fleet under Admiral Cornwallis, and employed in
occasional cruises to the southward. After the peace of
Amiens we find her stationed on the coasts of Cornwall and
Devonshire, for the suppression of smuggling; and in the
summer'of 1802, attending upon his late Majesty and the royal
family, at Wey mouth. She was paid off at Sheerness,
Sept. 22, in the same year. The three succeeding months of
Captain Hamond*s life were spent in visiting Havre, Rouen,
Paris, the Court of St. Cloud, and Calais.

On the 21st Feb. 1803, Captain Hamond waa»appointed to
the Plantagenet of 74 guns*, in which ship he captured the
Courier de Terre Neu\re, a French brig privateer of 16 guns
and 54 men, July 24, 1803, and three days afterwards 1'A-
talante, a beautiful corvette of 22 guns and 120 men. The
latter chased the Plantagenet, under the impression that she
was an [ndiaman, being without a poop. Captain Hamond
was obliged to resign the conuaand of this fine ship, through
ill-health, in November of the same year ; and he remained
without any other appointment until the change of Ministry
in 1804, when he obtained the command of the Lively, a
fine 38-gun frigate, recently launched at Woolwich.

The Lively joined Admiral CoirnwaMis off Brest, Sept. 23,
1804, and was immediately detached with secret orders to
intercept two Spanish frigates expected from Lima with trea-
sure, for which purpose Captain Graham Moore had received
similar directions the same day. On the 3d Oct. the Imle-

the island of Amak, not an officer or a man tad been oflf the Blanche's
deck from the time of her first getting under weigh, whereas erery
other ship's company had had their regular meals and usual night's
rest.

* See Vol. I. p. 84.

176 POST-CAPTAINS OF

fatigable, Lively, Medusa, and Amphion, formed a junction
off Cadiz j when Captain Sutton of the latter frigate gave in-
telligence, that the ships Captains Moore and Hamond were
sent to look after had already arrived, but that four others
were hourly expected, and that they would probably make
the high land of Monte Figo, near Cape St. Mary's, in Por-
tugal, for which neighbourhood the British squadron imme-
diately steered. The result of their rencontre with the Span-
ish ships, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Bustainente,
has already been noticed at p. 536 of our first volume. The
Lively, on that occasion, having compelled the Clara of 36 guns
and 300 men to surrender, after half an hour's close action, was
ordered to pursue the Fama, which ship had made sail from
her opponent, the Medusa. At half an hour past noon Cap-
tain Hamond succeeded in bringing her to action, which
continued until lh 15' P. M. when she surrendered, and was
taken possession of by the Lively, whose superior sailing
alone prevented the Spanish Commodore, Zapiain, from ef-
fecting his purpose, of running the Fama on shore to avoid
being captured. The total loss sustained by the Lively was
2 men killed and 5 wounded. She arrived at Spithead, ac-
companied by the Fama, on the 17th Oct. exactly one month
after leaving the Nore.

Captain Hamond was subsequently sent with secret orders
to the squadron stationed off Cadiz, under the orders of Sir
John Orde, by whom he was despatched in Nov. 1804, to
reconnoitre Carthagena j and after the performance of that
service, to cruise off Cape St Vincent, where he captured the
San Miguel, a Spanish merchant ship, from Ornoa to Cadiz,
having on board 196,639 dollars, four cases of wrought plate,
2,064 bales of indigo, and other valuable articles. The same
day (Dec. 7th) he observed Captain Lawford, of the Polyphe-
mus 64, capture the Santa Gertruyda, a frigate of 36 guns,
laden with a cargo of very great value *. It is necessary to
observe in this place, that all these treasure-ships were dis-
posed of as droits of the Crown, and only one-fourth of their
proceeds given to the captors.

Towards the latter end of Mar. 1805, the Lively received

;; i us. 6<V :;: icVj ;. r.

• See Vol. I. p. 498.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 177

on board all the specie and bullion that had been captured
from the Spaniards, amounting to near 5,000,000 dollars,
with which she arrived at Spithead on the 15th April. This
was probably the largest sum ever embarked on board one ship;
and Captain Hamond's anxiety for its safety was no doubt very
great. A recent arrangement, however, by which the pay-
ment of freight-money had been suspended, precluded him
from obtaining any remuneration for the immense responsi-
bility he had been subjected to, and which, according to for-
mer regulations, would have amounted to at least 10,000/.
sterling for the bare conveyance of such a sum from Gibral-
tar to Cadiz. The regulation alluded to was shortly after
rescinded.

On the 29th May, Captain Hamond being off Cadiz, with
the Surinam and Halcyon sloops of war under his orders,
observed the Glorioso, a Spanish 74, get under weigh, and
stand out towards him. About 4 P. M. when nearly five
miles distant from the land, the enemy hauled to the wind,
which at that time blew so strong as barely to allow him to
carry his whole top-sails with top-gallant-sails furled. Cap-
tain Hamond, notwithstanding his consorts were hull down
to leeward, immediately gave chase, and soon got within
gun-shot, firing repeatedly, when passing on opposite tacks,
for the space of two hours, and receiving the enemy's broad-
sides in return, but without any damage to the Lively. At
length the Spaniard's main-tack and jib-stay being shot away,
he appeared angry, and bore upsetting his top-gallant-sails.
Captain Hamond not deeming it prudent to close with so
superior a force, did the same, hoping to draw him down to
the English sloops, both of which carried heavy metal. The
enemy soon perceived his intentions, and at dark hauled up
under all sail. The Lively followed his example, intending to
keep sight of him during the night ; thinking it probable that
some other cruiser might have appeared to assist her at day-
light. Unfortunately the night proved thick and squally, and
the Spaniard was not seen again. Captain Hamond after-
wards learned that the Glorioso was bound to the Havannah,
with a new Governor and his suite on board as passengers,
and that she was obliged to put into Teneriffe to secure her

VOL. II. N

178 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

masts, and repair other damages occasioned by the Lively's
fire. In this rencontre the crew of the British frigate particu-
larly exerted themselves, and actually reefed the top-sails
twice with the yards only half lowered, working their guns
at the same time.

In June 1805, Captain Hamond took charge of a fleet of
transports at Gibraltar bound to Malta ; and on the 26th of
that month, having received on board General Sir James Craig
and suite, for a passage, made sail to the eastward, accom-
panied by four sail of the line under Sir Richard Bickerton,
who escorted him past Carthagena. The troops embarked in
these transports were intended to act in conjunction with a
Russian army, expected from Corfu to assist in the defence of
Naples. The squadron attached to ,the expedition consisted
of the Lively, Sea-horse, and Ambuscade frigates, and Merlin
sloop of war.

Every necessary arrangement having been made by Sir
James Craig and Captain Hamond, the latter of whom had
already visited Naples for that purpose, the armament left
Malta on the 3d Nov., formed a junction with the Russians
at sea, and arrived at Castel-a-Mare on the 20th. From
thence the combined troops were immediately marched to
the frontiers ; but the French entering the kingdom with a
far superior force, they were soon after obliged to retreat ;
and by the 19th Jan. 1806, the whole were again embarked,
and on their way to Messina ; the citadel and forts of which
place were garrisoned by them, jointly with the Sicilians, in
the course of the succeeding month.

During the time the Lively remained off Naples, her main-
mast was damaged by lightning, which also knocked down
several men, but did no further mischief. After landing the
troops at Messina, Captain Hamond refitted his ship at Malta,
and then returned to the Faro, where his launch captured a
Spanish merchantman. On the 7th April, Sir James Craig,
being obliged to return home on account of ill-health, once
more embarked with Captain Hamond, who landed him at
Plymouth on the 12th of the following month.

From this period we find no mention of Captain Hamond
till Dec. 27, 1808, when he assumed the command of the Vic-

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

torious 74, fitting for the North Sea station, in which ship
he assisted at the capture of Flushing, in Aug. 1809*. By
this time his health had again become so much impaired,
that he was under the necessity of applying for permission to
go to England j and his request being complied with by the
commander-in-chief, who kindly gave him a cutter for that
purpose, he resigned the command of the Victorious to his
first Lieutenant, Sept. 20, and arrived in the Downs on the
following day. During the last year of the war he commanded
the Rivoli, a third rate, forming part of the Mediterranean
fleet. He was nominated a C. B. in June 1815; and ga-
zetted as a Deputy-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Nov. 3,
1821.

Captain Hamond married, in Dec. 1806, Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of John Kimber, of Fowey, co. Cornwall, Esq.

dgent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney, M. P.

ROBERT HONYMAN, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790 ; commanded
the Tisiphone sloop of war, and captured the French priva-
teers le Prospere of 14 guns and 73 men, and le Cerf Volant
of 14 guns and 63 men, on the North Sea station, in 1797 j
and obtained the rank of Post-Captain Dec. 10, 1798. In
Oct. 1800, he was appointed to the Garland of 28 guns, em-
ployed on Channel service ; and in June 1801, we find him
conveying Rear- Admiral Robert Montague to Jamaica, where
he removed into the Topaze frigate, in which he returned to
England Oct. 12, 1802. At the general election, in the same
year, he was chosen to represent the shires of Orkney and
Shetland.

Early in 1803, Captain Honyman obtained the command
of the Leda frigate ; and at the renewal of the war was sta-
tioned on the coast of France, with a small squadron under
his orders, to obstruct the progress of the enemy's flotilla
from the eastward, towards Boulogne. On the 29th Sept.
he attacked a division of gun-boats, and drove two on shore,
where they were bilged. Whilst performing this service, a

See Vol. I. p. 290 j and note * at p. 135, of the present volume,
N 2

180 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1798.

shell fell on board the Leda and exploded in her hold, doing
but little injury to the ship, and without hurting a man.

At the latter end of July 1804, the boats of the Leda, com-
manded by Lieutenant M'Lean, boarded a French gun-ves-
sel in Boulogne roads, and after a smart conflict, succeeded
in cutting her adrift ; but, in consequence of the flood-tide
running very strong, were unable to bring her out. Of 38
men engaged in this affair, only 14 returned to the Leda.
The gallant commander of the party was among the slain.

On the 24th April, 1805, Captain Honyman discovered
twenty-six of the enemy's vessels rounding Cape Grisnez :
he immediately made the signal for his squadron to weigh ;
and after engaging them about two hours, succeeded in cut-
ting off seven schuyts, carrying altogether 18 guns, 1 how-
itzer, and 168 men, from Dunkirk, bound to Ambleteuse.
The British on this occasion had only 1 man wounded.

In the course of the same year, the Leda appears to have
narrowly escaped the fate which befel two ships under her
convoy from England to the Cape of Good Hope ; these ves-
sels, the King George transport and Britannia East Indiaman,
having been totally wrecked on some rocks near the coast of
Brazil. The particulars of their loss will be found in the Nav.
Chron. v. 23, p. 483, et seq.

In Jan. 1806, the Leda formed part of Sir Home Popham's
squadron at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope ; after
which he accompanied the same officer on an expedition to
the Rio de la Plata *, where she continued until the final eva-
cuation of Spanish America by the British forces, about Sept.
1807. Towards the conclusion of that year, Captain Hony-
man captured 1'Adolphe, a French privateer of 16 guns, on
the coast of France. The Leda was wrecked near the en-
trance of Milford Haven, on the 31st Jan. 1809, but her
commander was fully acquitted by a court-martial of all
blame on the occasion.

Captain Honyman has since commanded the Ardent of
64 guns, Sceptre 74, and Marlborough of the same force.
In the autumn of 1814, we find him superintending the pay-
ment of ships afloat at Portsmouth.

Agent.— •

* See Vol. I, note \, at p. 622, et seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 181

BARTHOLOMEW JAMES, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant May 6, 1779 ; com-
manded a letter of marque belonging to Jamaica, at the com-
mencement of the French revolutionary war ; and served as
an Agent of Transports, at the capture of Martinique, in 1794;
after which he joined the Boyne, a second rate, bearing the
flag of Sir John Jervis. In 1797? we find him commanding
El Corso of 18 guns, on the Mediterranean station ; and in
the following year, conducting the Canopus, (late Franklin)
one of Lord Nelson's prizes, from Gibraltar to England.
His post commission bears date Dec. 24, 1798. At the re-
newal of hostilities in 1803, he was appointed to a command
in the Sea Fencible service on the coast of Cornwall. His
youngest daughter is the lady of Captain T. B. Sulivan, R. N.
C.B.

Agent.— John Chippendale, Esq.

ROBERT LEWIS FITZGERALD, ESQ.

THIS officer is descended from a younger branch of the
very ancient and noble house of Leinster, in the kingdom of
Ireland, and nearly related to the -Earl of Kingston. He
entered the naval service in March 1786, as a Midshipman, on
board the Winchelsea frigate, commanded by the present
Viscount Exmouth, with whom tie served on the Newfound-
land station for a period of three years. He afterwards joined
the Centurion 50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Philip
Affleck, at Jamaica * ; and during the West India campaign
in 1794, we find him serving under Sir John Jervis, in the
Boyne of 98 guns ; from which ship he was promoted to the
rank of Lieutenant, in the Avenger sloop of war.

Soon after his return to England, Lieutenant Fitzgerald ob-
tained an appointment to the London, a second rate, carrying
the flag of Rear- Admiral Colpoys ; and in her he assisted at
the capture of three French line-of-battle ships off 1'Orient,

* See Vol. I. note f, at p. 568.

182 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

June 23, 1795*. His advancement to the rank of Com-
mander took place in Feb. 1797-

Captain Fitzgerald subsequently commanded the Vesuvius
bomb, and in that vessel assisted at the bombardment of
Havre by a squadron under Sir Richard J. Strachan ; and at
the destruction of la Confiante of 36 guns, and a French na-
tional cutter, in May 1798 f- His conduct on this occasion
was honorably noticed in the London Gazette.

The Vesuvius was afterwards ordered to the Mediterranean,
from whence Captain Fitzgerald returned to England in the
Tonnant, a French 80-gun ship, taken at the battle of the
Nile. Hig post commission bears date Dec. 24, 1798. During
the l^feter part of the war, he commanded the Triton of 32
guns, in which ship he captured a French vessel from Gna-
daloupe, laden with colonial produce. The Triton was paid
off at Plymouth, April 9, 1802.

Soon after the renewal of hostilities, Captain Fitzgerald,
whose health would not allow him to serve afloat, was ap-
pointed senior officer of the SeaFencibles in the Isle of Wight.
Previous to the dissolution of that corps, he held the chief
command of the district between Kidwelly and Cardigan.
In July 1816, he was elected Governor of the Royal Naval
Asylum ; but the power of nomination being afterwards con-
sidered not to rest with the Commissioners, the appointment
did not take place.

Captain Fitzgerald married, in Aug. 1 800, Jane, a daughter
of Richard Welch, Esq., formerly Chief Justice of the island
of Jamaica, and sister to the lady of Sir George Thomas,
Bart., by whom he has five sons and four daughters remain-
ing, of eleven children. His only brother, an officer in the 3d
regiment of Guards, aide-de-camp and equerry to H. R. H.
the Duke of York, died in 1802.

Agent. — Hugh Stanger, Esq.

* See Vol. I. p. 246. N. B. The London was commanded by Captain
Griffith, nephew of Rear- Admiral Colpoys. See id. p. '648.
f See Vol. I. p. 448.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98. 183

RIGHT HONORABLE

CHARLES HERBERT EARL MANVERS,

(VISCOUNT NEWARK.)

A Vice-President of the Bath Literary Society ; a Visitor of the British
Institution ; and a Vice-President of the Society for promoting' the
building of Churches and Chapels.

THIS nobleman's ancestors came into England with Wil-
liam the Conqueror, and were possessed of considerable es-
tates in Suffolk. Sir Simon Pierrepont was summoned to
Parliament in the 9th year of Edw. II. Robert, his descend-
ant, was created Baron Pierrepont, Viscount Newark and
Earl of Kingston, by Charles I. He had also the titles of
Baron Manvers and Herriz. Henry, his son, was created
Marquis of Dorchester in 1645 ; but dying without issue in
1680, the marquisate became -extinct; it was, however, re-
vived in the person of his younger brother Evelyn, who was
afterwards advanced to the dukedom of Kingston. His
Grace was the father of the celebrated Lady Mary Wortley
Montagu, and grandfather of Evelyn the last Duke, who
died without issue in 1773, leaving the whole of his property
to the Duchess, for her life, with reversion to his nephew,
Charles Medows, Esq., formerly a Captain, R. ,N., upon con-
dition of his assuming the family name of Pierrepont.

Mr. Medows married Anne Orton, youngest daughter and

co-heiress of Mills, of Richmond, co. Surrey, Esq. ;

and by that lady had five children. He succeeded to his
uncle's estates on the demise of the Duchess in 1789; was
created Viscount Newark and Baron Pierrepont, July 23,
1796; and Earl Manvers, April 1, 1806 *.

* Earl Manvers was the son of Lady Frances Pierrepont, sister to Eve-
lyn, Duke of Kingston, and the. wife of Philip Medows, Esq., youngest
son of Sir Philip Medows, Knight Marshal. He obtained the rank of
Post-Captain Aug. 17, 1757, and resigned his commission in 1763. His
Lordship \vas much attached to the pursuit of agriculture ; and in 1803
received a gold medal from the Society for the Encouragement of Arts,
Manufactures, and Commerce, for his spirited exertions in sowing acorns
and planting oaks on his estate. The Duke of Norfolk, who filled the
chair on this occasion, paid him a just and handsome compliment upon
the services rendered to his country, not only in war, but during his rural

184 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

Charles Herbert, the second son by the above marriage,
and the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 11, 1778; and
on the 8th Jan. 1798, when commander of the Kingsfisher,
a brig mounting 18 six-pounders, with a complement of 120
men, captured after a smart action, la Betsey, a French ship
privateer of 16 guns and 118 men, 9 of whom were killed
and wounded. The Kingsfisher had only 1 man wounded.
Whilst in the same vessel, he also captured le Lynx of 10
guns and 70 men; 1'Avantivia Ferolina, of 1 gun and 26
men ; and 1'Espoir of 2 guns and 39 men. He was made a
Post-Captain into the Spartiate 74, (one of the prizes taken
by Sir Horatio Nelson, in Aboukir Bay) Dec. 24, 1798; and
returned to England in that ship about July 1799. He was
subsequently appointed to the Dedaigneuse frigate, but re-
signed the command of her on the death of his elder brother,
which took place Oct. 22, 1801 *.

From this period our officer represented the county of
Nottingham in Parliament, until his accession to the Earldom,
June 17, 1816. In 1820 he ordered the arrears of his half-
pay, amounting to 1865 1. 9s. 6«?., to be added to the funds of
the Naval Charitable Society, together with all future half-
pay to which he may be entitled from the Navy ; the present
annual amount of which is 261 /. 5s. (xi. f In the following
year he reduced the rents of his tenants 20 per cent. ! ! !

This munificent nobleman married, Aug. 21, 1804, the
eldest daughter of Anthony Hardolph Eyre, Esq., his col-
league in the representation of Nottinghamshire.

Agents. Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Sou.

JOSIAH NISBET, ESQ.

THIS officer is the only son of the late Dr. Nisbet, Phy-
sician in the island of Nevis, by the accomplished Miss

retirement ; and observed that he had not only maintained the ancient bul-
warks of the empire, but had furnished materials for posterity to form new
ones. His Lordship died June 17, 1816.

* The Kiugsfisher was wrecked on the bar of Lisbon, when proceeding
to sea from the Tagus, under the command of her first Lieutenant, a few
days after Captain Pierrepont had joined the Spartiate.

f See Vol. I. note * at p. 66, and ditto at p. 504.

POST-CAPfAIKS OF 1798. 185

Woolward, uiece of Mr. Herbert, the President of that Co-
lony ; who afterwards married the gallant Nelson.

The subject of this memoir, when first seen by his future
father-in-law, at that time Captain of the Boreas frigate, and
senior officer on the Leeward Islands station, was only three
years old : and from that time they entertained a mutual
regard for each other, until Nelson became his legal guardian
and instructor.

" There are three things, young gentleman/' said Nelson
to one of his Midshipmen, " which you are constantly to
bear in mind. First, You must always implicitly obey
orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own
respecting their propriety. Secondly, You must consider
every man your enemy who speaks ill of your King : and,
Thirdly, You must hate a Frenchman as you do the Devil.1'
With these feelings he engaged in the war of 1793, Mr.
Josiah Nisbet accompanying him as a Midshipman on board
the Agamemnon of 64 guns.

It would be superfluous, in this place, to recount the many
services performed by our matchless hero, during the period
he commanded this ship ; we shall therefore be content with
observing that his son-in-law was present at the whole, and
completed his time as a petty officer under him. In the ex-
pedition against Teneriffe. we find Mr. Nisbet accompany-
ing Nelson as a Lieutenant, on board the Theseus of 74 guns ;
and the affection entertained by him for his patron is strongly
exemplified by his conduct on the disastrous night of July
24th, 1797.

Perfectly aware how desperate a service the attack upon
Santa Cruz was likely to prove, before Nelson left the
Theseus, he called Lieutenant Nisbet, who had the watch on
deck, into the cabin, that he might assist in arranging and
burning his mother's letters. Perceiving that the young man
was armed, he earnestly begged him to remain behind :
" Should we both fall, Josiah," said he, " what would
become of your poor mother ! The care of the Theseus falls
to you : stay, therefore, and take charge of her." Lieutenant
Nisbet replied, "Sir, the ship must take care of herself ; I
will go with you to-night, if I never go again,"

In the act of stepping out of the boat, Nelson received a

186 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

shot through the right elbow, and fell ; Lieutenant Nisbet,
who was close to him, placed him at the bottom of the boat,
and laid his hat over the shattered arm, lest the sight of the
blood, which gushed out in great abundance, should increase
his faintness. He then examined the wound ; and taking
some silk handkerchiefs from his neck, bound them round
tight above the lacerated vessels. Had it not been for this
presence of mind in his son-in-law, Nelson must have perish-
ed. Lieutenant Nisbet then collected half a dozen seamen,
by whose assistance he succeeded, at length, in getting
the boat afloat, for it had grounded with the falling tide ;
and, himself taking an oar, rowed off to the Theseus, under
a tremendous, though ill-directed fire, from the enemy's
batteries.

In a private letter to Sir John Jervis, the first whicli he wrote
with his left hand, Nelson recommended his youthful com-
panion for advancement, in the following terms : " by my last
letter *, you will perceive my anxiety for the promotion of my
son-in-law, Josiah Nisbet. * * * * * *. If from poor Bo wen's
loss t you think it proper to oblige me, I rest confident you
will do it. The boy is under obligations to me ; but he re-
paid me, by bringing me from the mole of Santa Cruz."
In his first letter to Lady Nelson, he says : " I know it will
add much to your pleasure to find that Josiah, under God's
providence, was principally instrumental in saving my life."

Lieutenant Nisbet, according to the wish of his father-in-law,
was immediately promoted, and appointed to the command of
the Dolphin hospital- ship, attached to the Mediterranean
fleet. On Nelson's recovery after the loss of his arm, and
return to join his former chief, he received the following
letter :

* In a letter addressed to the coininander-in-chief, a few hours before
he set out upou tte enterprise, he recommended Lieutenant Nisbet to
the protection of Sir John, and of the nation ; addiug, " the Duke of
Clarence, should I fall, will, I am confident, take a lively interest for my
sou-in-law, on his name being mentioned."

t Captain Bowen, of the Terpsichore, killed in the attack, brother of
the present Com misssoner James Bowen, see p. 94; and Vol. 1, note t,
at p. 391, ft seq.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1798. 187

Earl St. Vincent, to Sir Horatio Nelson.

" My dear Admiral. — I do assure you, the Captain of the Dolphin has
acquitted himself marvellously well in three instances : In getting his ship
out and joining us off Cadiz soon after we arrived ; in conducting a convoy
of transports with troops from Gibraltar to Lisbon ; and lately, in pushing-
out to protect the stragglers of the convoy from England in very bad
weather ; and he also improves in manners and conversation, and is amply
stored with abilities, which only want cultivation to render him a very
good character."

Dec. 11, 1798. Nelson to his wife, from Naples. " The improve-
ment made in Josiah by Lady Hamilton is wonderful ; your obligations
and mine are infinite on that score ; not but Josiab/s heart is as good and
as humane as ever was covered by a human breast. God bless him, I
love him dearly with all his roughness."

Captain Nisbet's post commission bears date Dec. 24,
1798. He was promoted to that rank in the Thalia of 36
guns, which frigate he commanded on the Mediterranean
station until the month of Oct. 1800. Previous to his return
from thence, he appears to have given offence to his father-
in-law, by remonstrating with him on his infatuated attach-
ment to Lady Hamilton, an attachment which afterwards
had the unhappy effect of totally weaning his affections from
the wife he once loved so dearly. Captain Nisbet, we believe,
has held no subsequent appointment.

Agent. — William Marsh, Esq.

VOLANT VASHON BALLARD, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath.

THIS officer, when a Midshipman, accompanied the late
Captain Vancouver on a laborious and anxious voyage of dis-
covery to the N. W. coast of America, in which expedition he
was absent from England about four years and nine months.
In 1798, we find him commanding the Hobart sloop of war,
on the East India station, where he was posted into the Ca-
rysfort of 28 guns. He subsequently commanded the Jason
frigate, De Ruyter of 68 guns, Berschermer 50, and Blonde
38. Among the captures made by him in the latter ship,
we find the following French privateers :

188 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/98.

Guns. Men.

La Dame Villaret .... 5 69 Aug. 15, N

L'Hortense 8 90 16, |

L'Hirondclle 8 84 Sept. K, ^ 1807.

Le Duquesne 17 123 23,

L'Alert 20 149 Oct. 14, J

Total .... 58 515

Towards the close of 1809, we find Captain Bullard em-
ployed in the blockade of Guadaloupe, and assisting at the
destruction of two French frigates in Ance la Barque, toge-
ther with a heavy battery, by which they were defended*.
The Blonde on this occasion had her first Lieutenant, a
Master's-Mate, and 5 men killed j Lieutenant C. W. Richard-
son, 1 Midshipman, and 15 men wounded. The following
is an extract from the official report of the senior officer pre-
sent to Sir Alex. Cochrane, commander-in-chief "at the Lee-
ward Islands, dated Dec. 18, 1809:

" To Captains Ballard and Miller all possible praise is due, for so judi-
ciously placing their ships, in a situation nearly annihilating the enemy's
two frigates, of 40 guns each ; the outer ship's masts being gone, and her-
self on fire, by the time this ship (Sceptre) and the rest of the squadron,
from baffling winds, could render assistance."

The general order issued by Sir George Beckwith, after
the reduction of Guadaloupe in Feb. 1810, will be found at
pp. 879 and 880 of our first volume. Captain Ballard's name
is there mentioned in terms of high approbation, as also by the
naval commander-in-chief, in his public letter announcing
the conquest of that colony.

Captain Ballard married, Sept. 18, 1811, Arabella Sarah,
eldest daughter of James Crabb, of Shidfield Lodge, Hants,
Esq. His post-commission bears date Dec. 25, 1J98.
Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

HUGH DOWNMAtf, ESQ.

THIS officer is descended from a respectable family in De-
vonshire, of which his father was a younger branch. His first
cousin is a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Artillery.

He was born near Plymouth, about the year 1J65 j and
entered the naval service as a Midshipman on board the

* See Vol. I, p. 8/8 and 879.

POST-CAPTAINS OF J798. 189

Thetis frigate, in Oct. 1776. He afterwards joined the Are-
thusa, and in that ship had the misfortune to be wrecked
near Ushant, while in pursuit of an enemy.

Mr. Downman remained a prisoner in France from March
1779 till January 1780, when he was exchanged j and from
that period we find him serving in the Emerald, commanded
by Captain Samuel Marshall, until May 1782, when he re-
moved into the Edgar 74, bearing the broad pendant of Com-
modore Hotham, with whom he proceeded to the relief of
Gibraltar, in company with the grand fleet, under the orders
of Lord Howe. In the partial, and on the enemy's side
cautious encounter, which took place after the performance
of this service, the Edgar had 6 men wounded *.

From this period we lose sight of Mr. Downman till Feb.
1789, when he sailed for the East Indies with Commodore
Cornwallis, by whom he was made a Lieutenant, on the 5th
Mar. 1790. At the commencement of the French revolu-
tionary war he was appointed to the Alcide 74, in which ship
he assisted at the attack made upon the tower and redoubt of
Fornelli in Sept. 1793 f.

* See p. 101, el seq ; and Vol. I. pp. 17, 106.

f During the time that Toulon remained in possession of the allied
forces, a very formidable insurrection existed in Corsica : and General
Paoli, the leader of the insurgent party, sought the aid of the British, as-
suring Lord Hood, that even the appearance of a few ships of force off the
island, would be of the most essential service to the popular cause. Ac-
cordingly, in the mouth of Sept. 1793, tlie Alcide and Courageux /4's,
Ardent 64, Lowestoffe and Nemesis frigates, commanded by Captains
Woodley, Matthews, Sutton, Wolseley, and Lord Amelius Beauclerk, were
sent thither, under the orders of Commodore Linzee, who entered the Gulf
of St, Fiorenzo on the 21st. ; and having been led to believe that the bat-
teries near the town could not, on account of the distance, co-operate with
the tower and redoubt of Fornelli, resolved to make an attack on that
formidable post.

On the 30th, before day-break, the two-deckers took their stations, and
opened a heavy cannonade on the redoubt, which continued without inter-
mission nearly four hours, without producing any visible effect on the ene-
my's works. By this time the ships, particularly the Ardent, were so
much cut up, by a raking fire of nine 24-pounders from the town of St.
Fiorenzo, that Commodore Linzee, seeing no appearance of co-operation,
as had been promised, on the part of Paoli's adherents, deemed it prudent
to retire out of gun-shot. The force opposed to the squadron on this oc-

190 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

On the llth April, 1794, Commodore Linzee was advanced
to the rank of Rear-Admiral ; and when, in consequence of
his promotion, he hoisted his flag on board the Windsor
Castle of 98 guns, Mr. Downman went with him into that
ship, as second Lieutenant. He returned to England with
Lord Hood in the Victory, a first rate, at the latter end of
the same year.

In the ensuing spring, that distinguished nobleman, as we
have stated in our memoir of Admiral Sir John Knight*, had
prepared to resume his command in the Mediterranean, when
most unexpectedly, on the 2d May, he was ordered to strike
his flag. The Victory, however, immediately proceeded to
that station, as a private ship, and in December following re-
ceived the flag of Sir John Jervis, under whom Lieutenant
Downman served in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14,
1/97 1 > a few months after which he was promoted to the rank
of Commander in the Speedy brig of 14 four-pounders and
80 men.

During the time Captain Downman commanded the Speedy,
he took and destroyed several of the enemy's privateers, and
fought a very gallant action with a vessel of far superior
force. The following is a copy of his official letter, addressed
to Earl St. Vincent, on this occasion :

" Speedy, Tagus, Feb. 16, 1798.

" My Lord. — I have the honor to acquaint you, that on the 3rd instant,
at day-light, being seventeen leagues west of Vigo, we discovered a brig
bearing down on us with all sail set. At three P. M. being within half a
mile of us, she hauled her wind, and opened her fire ; on which we made
all sail to close, engaging her until half past five, when she tacked and
made sail from us. I immediately tacked, continuing to engage till half-
past seven, when, from her advantage of sailing, and little wind, she got
out of gun-shot. Owing to the great swell, we received little damage,
having only our fore-topmast shot through, with some of the running rig-
ging cut. It falling calm, and the vesseb separating, against all our efforts

Las t

casion consisted of one 4, two 8, and thirteen 24-pounders, from which
the enemy fired hot shot ; together with six heavy mortars. The loss sus-
tained by the British amounted to 16 men killed and 39 wounded. An
account of the subsequent operations against the French in Corsica, and
the final reduction of that island, will be found in our first volume, at p.
249, et seq.

* See Vol. I, p. 159. f See id. p. 21, et seq.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1798.

with the sweeps, I had the mortification, about twelve o'clock, to see her
fire several guns at our prize that we had taken the day before. Owing to
the good conduct of the master, 12 men who were on board the prize
battened down 26 Spaniards, and made their escape in a small boat. At
day-light a breeze of wind sprung up, which enabled us to fetch her. At
eight o'clock, she being within gun-shot, tacked, and made all sail from
us, rowing with her sweeps at the same time. We chased her until noon,
when they, finding she had the heels of us, shortened sail, wore, and
stood towards us, with a red flag flying at the main-top-gallant-mast head.
At half-past twelve, being within pistol-shot, we began to engage her,
with the wind upon the larboard quarter. At two, observing her fire to
slacken, I thought it a good opportunity to lay her on board ; but at that
instant she wore, and came to the wind on the starboard tack : finding us
close upon her starboard quarter, and from our braces and bow-lines being
shot away, our yards becoming square, she took the opportunity to put
before the wind, and made all sail from us. We immediately wore after
her, firing musketry at each other for 20 minutes, and so soon as the
lower-masts were secured, set our studding-sails, and continued the chase
until seven P. M. when we lost sight from her superior sailing. I then
hauled our wind, and made short tacks all night to fall in with our prize ;
at day-light saw her to windward ; at ten P. M. retook her, with 10
Frenchmen on board. I learn from the prizemaster, the brig is called
the Papillon, 360 tons burthen, pierced for 18 guns, mounting 14, four
12 and ten 9 pounders, manned with 160 men. We had 5 men killed and
4 badly wounded. I have to regret the loss of Lieutenant Button, and
Mr. Johnson, Boatswain, amongst the killed. I beg leave to recommend
to your Lordship's notice Mr. Marshall, Master, for his good conduct
during the action. Every praise is due to the ship's company for their
good behaviour. As all our lower-masts, bowsprit, main-boom, both
topmasts, and most of the yards were shot through, with all the standing
and running rigging cut, I thought proper to put into Lisbon to repair
our damage. " I have the honor to be, &c.

" HUGH DOWNMAN."

The credit which our officer acquired on this and other oc-
casions was such, that he received the thanks of the British
Factory at Oporto, accompanied by a piece of plate, value 50/.
as an acknowledgment of his services, and a token of their
gratitude. In the course of the same year, we find him com-
manding the Santa Dorothea frigate. His post-commission
bears date Dec. 26, 1798.

Amongst the captures made by Captain Dowmnan while
commanding the jSanta Dorothea, we find the San Leon, a
Spanish brig of 1 6 long six-poundera and 88 men * ; a brig
laden with wheat, and the Santa Anna of 10 guns : the two

* The Strorabolo, Perseus, and Bull Dog, assisted at this capture.

192 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

latter were cut out from under the batteries of Bordiguera
and Hospitallier.

In the spring of 1800, Captain Downman was entrusted
by Lord Keith with the blockade of Savona, a fortress situ-
ated about seven leagues from Genoa, which city was at that
time besieged by the British and Austrian forces*. During
41 nights the boats of the Santa Dorothea and the vessels
under her orders f rowed guard, with a perseverance highly
creditable to their officers and men ; and at length, by their
vigilance and activity in cutting off all supplies, obliged the
garrison, consisting of 800 troops, to capitulate. The terms
proposed having been submitted to and approved of by the
commander-m-chief, were signed by Captain Downman, in
conjunction with the Austrian Major-General Count de St.
Julian.

Notwithstanding the exertions of the allied forces, the
French were destined to be successful ; and, in consequence
of the fatal battle of Marengo, the whole of Tuscany and
Genoa again fell under their dominion. After the surrender
of the latter city to the enemy, Captain Downman was sent
to destroy the fortifications in the Gulf of Spezzia; a service
which he executed in the most satisfactory manner. He also
preserved the valuable Gallery of Florence from falling into
the hands of the French, by receiving it on board the Santa
Dorothea, and conveying it in safety to Sicily. On his
arrival at Palermo he received a letter, of which the following
is a correct translation, from one of the Grand Duke's confi-
dential servants, dated Nov. 18, 1800.

" I beg of you, Captain Downman, to accept 100 zee-bins, to distribute
among your seamen, as a trifling acknowledgment of the trouble which my
equipage occasioned them. In regard to yourself, it has already been my
care to take advantage of an extraordinary courier sent by the Imperial
Ambassador to Vienna, to inform my Sovereign of the important service
you have rendered to him and to Tuscany, by placing the most valuable
possessions of his royal gallery in safety : and I feel assured that H. R. H.
will publicly testify his thanks. On my own account, I owe you much
more. You have preserved relicks which have formed, and will continue
to form, much of my happiness j and you also entertained me while on
board, with unexampled politeness and urbanity. For the present, be

* See Vol. I. p. 53.

t Cameleon sloop of war, commanded by Lieutenant Jackson; and
Strombolo a Neapolitan brig, Captain Settimo.

,w»«slJ ,ul<

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1J98. 193

assured of my lively and sincere acknowledgments. In more happy times,
I may recompence the obligation at Florence, where, in appreciating the
works of art which you have preserved, you will be sensible of the import-
ance of your services, and the weight of my obligations. In this hope
I remain, with perfect esteem, respect, and gratitude, your friend and
servant, (Signed) "TOMMASO PUCCINI."

The following letters subsequently passed between the
British representative and another of the Grand Duke's Mi-

mstcrs *

"Vienna, March 3, 1801.

" The assiduous attention with which Captain Downman, of the English
frigate Santa Dorothea, has conveyed from Leghorn to Palermo various
valuable effects belonging to H. R. H. the Grand Duke of Tuscany, my
Sovereign, which were accompanied by Signor Tommaso Puccini, has
been stated to his Royal Highness.

" H. R. H., understanding that orders to this effect were given by Ad-
miral Lord Keith, desires me to request you will convey to the same his
royal thanks. It will also be gratifying to H. R. H., if you will condes-
cend to forward to Captain Downman a diamond ring, which will be con-
veyed to you by Signor Brigadier Giovanr.o del Bava, as a testimony of the
high sense which H. R. H. has of the delicate attention with which Cap-
tain Downman executed this commission. « * • •

" Mr. tPyndham. (Signed) " G. RAINOLDI."

" Trieste, March 20, 1801.

" Most Illustrious Signor. — I have received the honor of your note,
accompanied by a diamond ring, which H. R. H. the Grand Duke of Tus-
cany condescends to present to Captain Downman, of his Britannic Ma-
jesty's frigate Santa Dorothea, for the care with which he conveyed various
effects belonging to H. R. H. from Leghorn to Palermo ; and I feel myself
happy in being deputed to testify to my brave and worthy friend so hono-
rable a testimony of H. R. H.'s approbation. I shall not fail to send it to
him, with a copy of your Excellency's letter, by the first courier that sets
out for London, being very uncertain where the Santa Dorothea may be
met with at sea.

" I shall do myself the honor of writing to Admiral Lord Keith, announ.
cing to him those professions of acknowledgment from the Grand Duke,
which cannot fail to be highly gratifying to him, and to impress him with
sentiments of respect and gratitude. * * * *

" Signor G. Rainoldi. (Signed) " W. WYNDHAM."

At the same time that Captain Downman took the Flo-
rence gallery on board his ship, he also received the Duke of
Savoy, (afterwards King of Sardinia) his family, and suite,
and landed them at Naples. For his very sedulous and oblig-
ing attentions during the passage, that Prince sent him the
following letter, and the Duchess a diamond ring :

VOL. If. Q

194 POST-CAPTAINS OF

" Sir. — I cannot sufficiently express the extent of my gratitude, and
that of my wife, for the extraordinary care and trouble which you have so
willingly taken, durtog our passage from Leghorn to Naples. It is to
your solicitude, in shortening, as much as possible, the sufferings which
the bad weather might have occasioned to a woman, in the ninth month of
her pregnancy, that my wife is indebted, for not having eventually suffered
from those shocks, which might perhaps hare occasioned an irreparable
loss to our family, had she been exposed to them twenty-four hours
longer. Our gratitude will consequently be proportionate to the obliga-
tion which . you have confewed upon us ; and it will always be with plea-
sure that we shall remember our acquaintance with an officer of merit and
capacity, in all respects like yourself. I flatter myself that you will be
convinced of the sincerity of these sentiments, as well as of the constant
interest which I shall take in every thing that may concern you ; and that
I shall esteem myself happy in being able to distinguish you upon every
occasion. It is with these sentiments that I am, Sir, &c. &c.

(Signed) " VICTOR EMANUEL DE SAVOIE." *

In July 1801, we find Captain Downman escorting three
Swiss regiments land the corps of Lamenstein to Egypt, where
he received the gold medal of the Turkish Order of the Cres-
cent. He subsequently removed into the Caesar of 84 guns,
bearing the flag of Sir James Saumarez, Bart., which ship was
paid off at Portsmouth, July 23, 1802. In Jan. 1804, he was
again selected by that excellent officer to be his Flag-Captain,
in the Diomede 50j on the Guernsey station, where he con-
tinued about fourteen months. He afterwards commanded
the Diadem 64, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Home Pop-
ham, at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope f ; from
whence he returned to England with the Commodore's des-
patches, announcing the conquest of that important colony,
and from which we make the following extract :

" Captain Downman, of the Diadem, will have the honor of delivering
this despatch to their Lordships ; and from the intelligent manner in which
I am satisfied lie will explain every movement, and the causes by which
I have been actuated, I trust he will require no further recommendation to
their Lordships' protection."

Having executed this mission, Captain Downman proceeded
to the Rio de la Plata, where he resumed the Command of his

• Victor Emanuel, King *of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy, Piedmont, and Ge-
noa, abdicated his thront March 13, 1821; and was succeeded by his
brother Charles Felix, son-in-law of Ferdinand IV. King of Naples and
the Sicilies.

t See Vol. I. note f, at p. 622,

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 195

former ship, the Diomede. After the capture of Monte Video
he sailed for Europe ; and in June 1807, was put out of com-,
mission. During the latter part of the war, he commanded
the prison-ships stationed at Portsmouth, and the Princess
Caroline of 74 guns, attached to the North Sea fleet.

Captain Downman married, June 23, 1 803, a daughter of
Mr. Peter Palmer, of Portsmouth.

Agent. — •

HON. THOMAS BLADEN, CAPEL *

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

THIS officer is descended from Sir William Capel, who
was Lord Mayor of London in 1493 ; and the youngest son

• Among the eminent men of this family, whose founder was Sir William
Capel, Lord Mayor of London, we find a Giles Capel, who was knighted by
Hen. VIII. for his valour in different battles. Arthur, first Lord Capel,
who, during the civil wars, took part with Charles I., raised several troops
of horse at his own expence, defended Colchester with great bravery, and
after the surrender of the garrison was beheaded, with the Duke of Hamil-
ton, Earl of Cambridge, &c. &c., in express violation of the promise of
quarter given by the rebels : " he was a man," says Lord Clarendon, " in
whom the malice of his enemies could discover very few faults ; and whom
his friends could not wish to see better accomplished." * * * " In a
word, he was a man, that whoever after him, deserves best of the English
nation, he can never think him self under valued, when he shall hear that his
courage, vktue, and fidelity, is laid in the balance with, and compared to,
that of Lord Capel." Arthur, the son of this nobleman, was created Earl
of Essex, April 20, 1661 ; held several important situations in the diplo-
matic line, and exhibited a noble instance of prudence, integrity, and mo-
deration, as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, from whence he was recalled in
1677; and being afterwards accused as one of the conspirators in the " Rye
House Plot," was committed to the Tower, where he was found with his
throat cut, July 13, 1683 ; a catastrophe which is yet involved in mystery.
His only son, Algernon, second Earl of Essex, was a Lord of the Bed-
chamber to King William, and attended him in all his campaigns. The fol-
lowing mention will be found of him among the " Anecdotes of the Court
of Queen Anne" — " He is a good companion ; loves the interests of his
country ; hath no genius for business, nor will ever apply himself that way.
He married my Lord Portland's daughter. The Queen continues him in
her regiment, and has made him Brigadier-General. He is a well-bred
gentleman, brown compkxioned, and well-shaped ; but his mouth is al-
ways open."

Hampton Court, ff splendid building in Herefordshire, with a consider-

o 2

196 POST-CAPTAINS OF J798.

of William, fourth Earl of Essex, by his second Countess,
Harriett, daughter of Colonel Thomas Bladen. He was born
Aug. 25, 1776.

We are not aware of the manner in which Mr. Capel passed
his time as a Midshipman ; but early in 1798, we find him
serving as junior Lieutenant of the Vanguard 74, bearing
the flag of Sir Horatio Nelson, by whom he was promoted to
the rank of Commander in the Mutine sloop of war, imme-
"diately after the glorious battle in Aboukir bay, on which oc-
casion he did the duty of signal officer.

On the 13th Aug. 1798, Captain Capel sailed for Naples
with a duplicate of the Rear- Admiral's despatches, and letters
for different official personages, among which was one ad-
dressed to the chief magistrate of the British metropolis, ac.
companied by the sword of M. Blanquet, the senior French
officer who survived the battle. From Naples, Captain Capel
proceeded overland to England, where he arrived on the 2d
Oct., and gave the first intelligence of the defeat sustained by
the republican fleet.

On the 27th Dec. following, Captain Capel, (to whom
Nelson had referred the Board of Admiralty for further infor-
mation respecting the battle, at the same time describing him
as "a most excellent officer,") was advanced to post rank,
and early in the following year appointed to the Arab of 22
guns. From this vessel he afterwards removed into the Me-
leager 32, in which ship he had the misfortune to be wrecked
on the Triangle rocks, in the Gulf of Mexico, June 9, 1801 *.

Early in 1803, he obtained the command of the Phoebe
frigate, and proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he con-
tinued to serve until after the death of his noble friend, the
lamented Nelson.

In the month of April 1805, when that gallant hero pro-
able estate annexed, was knocked down by Squibb, at Garraways, in 1808,
for 64,000/. The grand junction canal passes through Cashiobury Park,
Herts., the present residence of the Earl of Essex, and which is said to
have been the seat of the Kings of Mercia, till Offagaveitto the monastery
of St. Albans. The proprietors at first intended to make a tunnel under
Crossley Hill, but were spared the enormous expence which would have
att"Med such a measure, by the liberality of his Lordship.
* See Captain WILLIAM HENRY DILLON.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798. 197

ceeded down the Mediterranean in pursuit of the French fleet
from Toulon *, Captain Capel was left with five frigates and
two bombs to cover Sardinia, Sicily, and the route to Egypt,
from any troops that might be sent to land in those places.
For some time previous to the battle of Trafalgar, the Phoebe
was employed under the directions of Sir Henry Blackwood,
watching the combined fleets in Cadiz harbour ; and after
that memorable event, Captain Capel, by his extraordinary
exertions, saved one of the prizes, the Swiftsure of 74 guns ;
and, together with Captain Malcolm, of the Donegal, subse-
quently brought out the Bahama, a ship of the same force.

In December following, Captain Capel sat as a Member of
the Court Martial assembled at Portsmouth, to try Sir Ro-
bert Calder, for his conduct after the action with Villeneuve
on the 22d of the preceding July. At the latter end of 1806,
he assumed the command of the Endymion frigate, on the
Mediterranean station ; and in the succeeding year, accom-
panied the expedition to the Dardanelles, and conveyed the
British Ambassador to and from Constantinople f. During
the operations carried on between Feb. 19, and March 3, the
Endymion received two shot, each weighing upwards of 700
pounds, and had 3 men killed and 10 wounded. Sir John
Duckworth, in his letter to Lord Collingwood, dated March
6th, makes particular mention of Captain Capel's " zealous
attention and assiduity" during the time he was placed in the
stream of the Bosphorus, for the purpose of ascertaining when
the squadron could stem the current, and for a watchful ob-
servation of the movements of the Turks, as well as to faci-
litate communication with the Porte.

Our officer continued to command the Endymion until the
summer of 1810, and was then appointed to the Elizabeth
of 74 guns. About the month of July 1811, he removed into
the Barham ; and at the latter end of that year, to the Hogue
of the same force. In the latter he was employed in North
America during the whole period of the war with the United
States ; and for a considerable portion thereof, was senior
officer upon the northern part of the coast, where the ships

V : . . 1* . h

* See Vol. I, note at p. 589, et seq.
t See Vol. 1. pp. 316, etseq. ; 799, et fey. ; and 808, et seq.

196 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1798.

under his orders were particularly active and successful in their
annoyance of the enemy *.

Captain Capel at present commands the Royal George
yacht, to which he was appointed Dec. 15, 1821. He was
nominated a C. B. in June 1815.

Our officer married, May 10, 1816, the only daughter of
F. G. Smyth, of Upper Brook Street, London, Esq.

Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

WILLIAM HANWELL, ESQ.

THIS officer obtained his first commission about the year
1793 ; and in 1798? we find him serving as senior Lieutenant
of the Sheerness 44, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore
James Cornwallis, on the African station.

There is a privilege existing, from time immemorial, which
is not enjoyed on any other station than that of the coast of
Africa : it is that of the next officer giving himself the rank of
his deceased superior ; and which self-appointments have
ever been held good by the Admiralty. Commodore Corn-
wallis died of a fever July 31, 1798; when Lieutenant Han-
well, who succeeded him in the command of the Sheerness,
gained two gradations of rank, which, on his arrival in Eng-
land, was confirmed by a post commission, dated Dec. 29,
1798. We know of no other living instance of such a fortu-
nate advancement in the navy f.

Early in 1810, Captain Hanwell obtained the command of
the Grampus, a 50-gun ship ; and on the 26th Oct. in the fol-
lowing year, he was tried by a court-martial upon a charge
of repeated drunkenness and unofficer-like conduct, preferred
againsthim by Lieutenant John Chesshire. The Court agreeing
that the charge was not proved, acquitted him ; observing,
that the prosecution appeared to be malicious and vexatious.
He subsequently commanded the Dictator 64 ; and during the

* See Captains F. P. EPWORTH, SIR P. B. V. BROKE, HYDE PARKER,
and H. PYNE.

-f The Naval Instructions, established by an order in council, Jan. 25,
1806, appear to abrogate this regulation, so far as concerns post rank ; see
•ect. iv. chap. 2. art. viii.

POST-CAPTAINS Off 1799. 199

latter part of the war superintended the depot for prisoners, of
war at Norman Grogs.

Captain Hamvell married, in 1800, Miss Hanwell of Mix-
bury, near Brackley, Northamptonshire.

in -. — , - -^ - - — io

THOMAS MANBY, ESQ.

THIS officer is descended from a family whose existence
we can trace to the reign of Henry III, His progenitors
possessed large estates at Manby in Yorkshire; and his
father, Captain Matthew Pepper Manby, considerable pro-
perty at Hilgay, co. Norfolk *.

When very young, he was appointed one of the Stationers
to the Ordnance department, over which his friend the late
Marquis Townshend at that time presided ; but notwithstand-
ing the emoluments of this situation, his predilection for the
Naval profession was so great as to induce him to yesign it,
and embark as a Midshipman on board the Hyaena of 34 guns,
in which ship he served on the Irish station from 1783 till
1785; at which latter period his naval patron, the late Hon.
Admiral J. Levison Gower, placed him in the Cygnet sloop of
war, under the protection of Captain (now Sir Henry) Ni-
cholls, with whom he proceeded to the West Indies, an$ af-
terwards removed into the Amphion frigate.

After visiting the whole of the,- West India and Bahama
islands, the Mosquito $hore, Bay of Honduras, Carthagena,
and the Spanish Main, he returned to England in the Amphion,
and soon after joined the Illustrious pf 74 guns, bearing his
patron's flag. Towards the clpse of 179Q* he embraced an
offer made him by Captain George Vancouver, to accompany
him ap a Master's-Mate, in the Discovery, a ship which had
been fitted out early in. the year, for the purpose of exploring

* Captain M. P. Manby, was owner of the Wood Hall estate, and Lord
of the Manor. He served several years in the Welch Fuzileers ; but
being severely wounded during the siege of Bellelsle in 176 If, he was
compelled to withdraw from service in the field. He subsequently acted
as an aide-de-camp to George Viscount Townshend, Viceroy of Ireland.

f See Schombei'g?s Naval Chronology, Vol. I. p. 354, et seq.

200 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

the N. W. coast of America, but detained in consequence of
an expected rupture with the court of Spain. That cloud
having blown over, she was ordered to Nootka Sound, for the
purpose of receiving formal restitution of the territories on
Which the Spaniards had seized ; after which she was to make
an accurate survey of the coast, and obtain every possible
information respecting the natural and political situation of
that country.

The Discovery, attended by a brig called the Chatham,
commanded by Lieutenant W. R. Broughton *, proceeded on
her voyage early in 1791 ; visited the Canary Islands, Cape
of Good Hope, New Holland, and New Zealand ; discovered
the island of Oparo; touched at Otaheite, and all the Sand-
wich islands ; made considerable discoveries on the N. W.
coast of America ; and arrived at Nootka Sound in the au-
tumn of 1792. At this place some disputes arose with the
Spanish authorities ; in consequence of which, Captain Van-
couver despatched officers to England for further instructions,
and at the same time appointed Mr. Manby Master of the
Chatham. For nearly two years from this period, the vessels
were employed exploring a considerable portion of the Ulte-
rior navigation of N. W. America, and the southern shores of
California, passing each winter amongst the Sandwich islands.

On one occasion, the Chatham was sent from Atooi to
Cook's river, where she arrived after a passage of three weeks,
during which short period the thermometer had fallen from
90° to 5° below zero. This rapid change caused all the crew
to be afflicted with violent rheumatic complaints, and laid the
foundation of those pains with which the subject of this memoir
has long been tortured. Whilst exploring this river, the
Chatham was hurried down a fall ; the velocity of the current
rendered it impossible to anchor, and her destruction appeared
inevitable : but fortunately the channel, though narrow, was
free from rocks, and on her reaching an immense basin of
water, after being twirled round several times, she was brought
up by her masts and yards becoming entangled among some
trees ; from which dilemma it required the greatest exertions
of her officers and crew, during two days, to extricate her.

* See Vol. I. note *, at p. 165.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 201

From Cook's river, the Chatham proceeded to Nootka
Sound, where she again joined the Discovery ; with which
ship she afterwards went to the southward, for the purpose of
exploring Columbia river, then recently discovered. On ar-
riving at the entrance thereof, the Chatham led in and an-
chored ; but from the state of the weather, the Discovery was
obliged to stand out to sea, and ultimately proceeded to Port
St. Francisco, in New Albion.

The examination of Columbia river occupied near three
weeks ; in which time the constant gales of wind had thrown
up so dreadful a surf across the entrance, that to gain the offing
appeared almost impossible. For several days Mr. Manby
was employed sounding the bar ; and not finding less than
three fathoms water, his commander resolved to make the
attempt. A favorable breeze assisted their efforts ; and not-
withstanding the fury of the surf, by which she was often
erected nearly an end, Mr. Manby, from the fore-top-sail-
yard, succeeded in conning her out to sea without any serious
injury, although each surge, after breaking at the height of
the lower yards, swept her deck, and threatened destruction
to all on board. A more perilous time was never known by
the oldest seaman.

At length Captain Vancouver, finding the officers he had
sent to Europe, concerning the adjustment of the differences
relative to Nootka Sound, did not return, promoted Mr.
Manby from the Chatham, to be a Lieutenant in the Discovery,
where he continued till that ship returned to England, and
was paid off, in the fall of 1795.

This expedition added much to the geographical know-
ledge of the world, the vessels having kept sight of the con-
tinental shore from the 30th to the 62d degree of North la-
titude. On their passage home, they called at the island of
Cocoa, the Gallapagos, and Valparaiso ; rounded Cape Honi,
and anchored at St. Helena.

Lieutenant Manby afterwards served in the Juste of 84
guns, commanded by the Hon. Thomas Pakenham ; and in
1796, when the late Lord Hugh Seymour prepared a squa-
dron for the South Sea, that nobleman applied for him to be
placed under his orders ; in consequence of which he was

202 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/99.

promoted to the rank of Commander in the Charon 44, armed
en jlute, intended to carry stores for the armament ; but cir-
cumstances inducing government to countermand Lord
Hugh's orders, she was subsequently employed affording pro-
tection to the trade between Cork and the Downs, and con-
veying troops to Ireland duriqg the rebellion in that country.
On one occasion she received a regiment of 1 000 men ; the
whole of whom were landed at Guernsey twenty-four hqurs
after leaving PorUmouth. Before sun-set, the ship was again
under weigh, with the Glengarry and Nottingham Fencibles,
1000 strong, embarked ; and the following day those corps
were landed at Waterford. The alertness thus displayed by
Captain Manby at so momentous a crisis, was highly praised
by Sir Hugh Dalrymple, the Governor of Guernsey, and
gained him the approbation of the Admiralty.

Whilst in Ireland, Captain Manby landed several times
with his crew, to dislodge the insurgents from their strong
holds near the banks of Waterford river 3 and on his return to
England, he had the honor of presenting to his late Majesty at
Weymouth, several pikes taken from his rebellious sub-
jects.

The exemplary conduct of the Charon's officers and men
during the disgraceful mutiny in the British navy, wa* so
much approved by Sir John Qrde, the Port-Admiral at Ply-
mouth, that a considerable part of the petty officers were re-
warded with warrants by order of the Admiralty, and Captain
Manby himself obtained a promise of promotion to post rank.
He was afterwards sent to cruise in the Channel, where he
captured a French privateer, March 2, 1J98. During the
time he commanded the Charon, he gave protection to no
less than four thousand seven hundred and fifty-three vessels,
not one of which was lost. In addition to these services,
he for some time assisted at the blockade of Havre de Grace.
His post commission bears date Jan. 22, 1799. The follow-
ing anecdote will explain why this advancement did not take
place at an earlier period :

In Oct. 1J98, the Charon was ordered to prepare at Wool-
wich for foreign service, Captain Manby to be posted, and the
late Lord Camelford to succeed him in the command of

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

that ship. Unfortunately, his Lordship soon entered into so
many altercations with the Navy Board, that the Admiralty
directed Captain Manby to superintend her outfit ; a circum-
stance to be lamented by him, as he would otherwise have
stood at least one-third nearer the top of the Post-Captains'
list than he does at present. Lord Camelford attended the
Charon daily, had several boats built and fitted with brass
guns, at a great expence \ and, the various alterations he wish-
ed for being nearly completed, despatched an intelligent per-
son to France for the purpose of purchasing, at any cost,
plans of all the French ports in the Mediterranean j his Lord-
ship's agent not succeeding, he resolved on the hazardous
enterprise of going himself to Paris, and actually left London
with that intent late in December. Lord Camelford had tra-
velled near two stages on the Dover road in his own carriage,
when the mail-coach drove up, in which he took a place, and
found three foreign gentlemen as his fellow passengers ; one
of whom was the celebrated Monsieur Bompard, who had
recently been taken prisoner by Sir John Borlase Warren *,
and was then returning home on his parole. His Lordship,
who spoke French as fluently as English, to humour the French
commander, extolled the republican government, and so far
ingratiated himself in his good opinion, that M. Bompard of-
fered to serve him in any way he could. At Dover, Lord
Camelford requested to have a private interview with his new
friend, hoping by a Httle flattery to work on the Frenchman's
credulity, and thereby ensure his own safety to Paris, His
request being complied with, he said to his dupe, " I am an
officer of the British Navy, and most desirous to get to Paris,
having a wish to see the Minister Barras, to unfold important
information that would prove of essential service to the re-
public." In an instant Bompard embraced him, called for
pen and ink, and wrote an introductory letter to Barras, which
was sealed and pocketed by his Lordship, who laughed in his
sleeve at having thus hoaxed his fellow traveller. He then
went to the beach, and agreed with the crew of an open boat to
land him on the French coast. The boat was promised to be
got ready in two hours, and Lord Camelford returned to, the

* See Vol. I. p. 171.

204 POST-CAPTAINS OK 1799.

inn to take refreshments. Whilst he was thus employed, the
boatmen suspecting something wrong from his extreme anx-
iety to cross the Channel, communicated their suspicions to
the Collector of the Customs, who, taking some of the civil
power to his aid, placed himself near the boat, and on his
Lordship coming down to embark, seized his person, and con-
veyed him back. On searching his pockets, they found the
identical letter written by M. Bompard, together with a con-
siderable sum of money, a brace of pistols, and a dagger.
His Lordship refusing to answer any questions, they hurried
him into a post-chaise, and proceeded to the office of the Se-
cretary of State, in London. A Privy Council was imme-
diately summoned, an investigation took place, and on Lord
Camelford saying all his intentions were known to Captain
Manby, the latter was waited on by Lord Grenville, and re-
ceived an order from the Duke of Portland to attend the fol-
lowing morning at the Treasury, where he underwent a long
examination before the Privy Council assembled for that pur-
pose ; and by his answers, set every thing in its proper light.
His Lordship was forthwith liberated, but soon afterwards
received an official message from the Board of Admiralty,
acquainting him that he was not to have the Charon. Hurt
and mortified at this intelligence, as he had made great pre-
parations for assuming the command of that ship, his Lord-
ship wrote to desire his name might be erased from the
list of Commanders, which the Board instantly complied with ;
at the same time giving post rank to Captain Manby, and
appointing Captain Mackellar to succeed him in the Charon *.
Towards the latter end of the same year, Captain Manby
was appointed to le Bourdelois of 24 guns ; in which ship,
during a long cruise off the Western islands, he captured a
valuable French schooner from Guadaloupe, laden with coffee.
Le Bourdelois was afterwards employed in the blockade of
Flushing; but from her lowness in the water, and great length,
she proved so perpetually wet, that her crew got sick, and
rendered it highly necessary to remove her from that service.

» Lord Oamelford was one of Captain Manby's messmates iu the Dis-
covery. The barony became extinct by his demise in 1804. See Vol. I
note at p. 716.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 205

She was therefore ordered to Spithead, and from thence to the
West Indies *.

Le Bourdelois sailed from England at the close of 1800,
under the orders of the Andromache frigate, Captain Bradby,
and in company with a fleet of merchantmen. The convoy
being dispersed in a gale of wind off Cape Finisterre, Captain
Manby proceeded to the rendezvous at Madeira ; from whence
he was despatched by the commodore, to keep a look out for
the scattered ships, one hundred leagues to windward of
Barbadoes. On his way to that station, he re-captured two
of the stragglers, which had been taken by a French priva-
teer f ; and on the 28th Jan. 1801, he had the good fortune
to discover two large brigs and a schooner, which had been
sent from Cayenne by Victor Hugues, to intercept the West
India fleet. These vessels were first seen at noon, and being
to windward, Captain Manby brought them down by stra-

* Le Bourdelois had formerly been a French privateer, belonging to
Bourdeaux. She was pierced for 26 guns, and at the time of her capture,
mounted 16 long brass 12-pounders, and 8 brass 36-pr. carronades, on a
flush deck, with a complement of 202 men. Her extreme length was
one hundred and forty-nine feet. In form she was like a dolphin ; but al-
though the most beautiful model ever seen, many of Captain Manby's
brother officers considered her the most dangerous vessel in the service,
and were therefore induced to call her the coffin. Sir Edward Pellew, now
Viscount Exinouth, viewing heV one day as she lay alongside the Jetty
at Plymouth dock-yard, gave this advice to her commander : " Whenever
you are in a gale of wind, stanchion up yojir main-deck fore and aft; for
should a heavy sea break on board, she will go down like a stone, as her
frame is very weak, and she has no beam to support it." This precaution
was always taken, and le Bourdelois survived ; but two sloops of war, the
Raillenr and Trompeuse, of the same build, but smaller, both went to the
bottom in a gale off Brest, May 16, 1807, a»d every person on board them
perished. Had the above measure been adopted, most probably they would
not have foundered. Le Bourdelois was taken by the Revolutionnaire fri-
gate, Oct. 11, 1799, after a chase of 114 miles in nine hours and a half.
She was at this time on her second cruise, and had previously outsailed all
her pursuers. At the termination of her first trip, during which she took
twenty=nine valuable prizes, her owners gave a splendid dinner to her offi-
cers ; and upon their relating how often she had been chased, her builder
being present said " England has not a cruiser that will ever touch her
except the Revolutionaire ; and should she ever fall in with that frigate in
blowing weather, and be under her lee, she will be taken." This actually
occurred on her second cruise. The same builder constructed both vessels.
t See Captain ROBERT BARRIE, C. B.

206 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/99.

tagem, reserving his fire till the largest brig had arrived within
hailing distance, when he brought her to action ; and after
a close carronade of more than half an hour, compelled her to
surrender. The other vessels observing le Bourdelois could
fight both sides at once, behaved very shy on this occasion,
and made off when they saw the fate of their commodore ; but
not before they had received such a dose from the English
ship, as effectually spoiled their cruise. The prize proved to
be la Curieuse of 390 tons, pierced for 20 guns, mounting
18 long 9-pounders, with a complement of 168 men, about
50 of whom were killed and wounded, including among the
latter her commander, Captain George Radelet, who lost
both his legs, and survived but a few hours. Many of the
prisoners were in an equally pitiable state ; and the vessel
was BO Completely torn to pieces, that she went down just as
our seamen had removed the last of the wounded Frenchmen
from her. The floating wreck buoyed up many from destruc-
tion ; butMessrs. Spence and Auckland, two promising young
gentlemen, with five of Captain Manby's gallant and humane
crew, unfortunately perished, in consequence of their perse-
verance in the meritorious service on which they were em-
ployed. The delay occasioned by this unhappy event, secur-
ing the prisoners, and repairing damages, detained Captain
Manby about three hours before he could pursue the flying
enemy \ which was done, however, with all alacrity, but
•without success, as the night favored their escape. They
were la Mutine of 300 tons, sixteen long 6-pounders, and
156 men ; and 1'Esperance of six 4-pounders and 52 men. La
Bourdelois at this time mounted twenty-two 32-pr. carron-
ades, and two long 9-pounders, with a complement of 195
men. She had 1 killed and 7 wounded.

The discomfiture of this little squadron saved the scattered
fleet from Capture, and induced the commodore to write the
following official letter, which was transmitted to the Admi-
ralty, with Captain Manby's account of the action :

" Andromache, Barbadoes, Feb. 6, 1801.

" Sir.— Enclosed are two letters from Captain Thomas Manby to me,
from which the service he baa rendered to the different islands, by destroy-
ing a squadron Sent out by Victor Hugues, for the interception of the out-
ward bound convoy, speaks for itself.

(Signed) " J. BRADBY."

" To Rear^dmiral Duckworth, $c. fyc."

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1799. 207

Le Bourdelois having landed her prisoners at Barbadoes,
proceeded to Martinique, and convoyed the trade from thence
to Jamaica, where Captain Manby joined his noble friend
Lord Hugh Seymour, by whom he was sent to cruise in the
Mona passage, on which service he continued for several
months. During the time he was thus employed, a Spaniard
came on board from Porto Rico, and begged protection, as he
had just murdered his officer. Captain Manby heard his
story with indignation, and immediately put the wretch in
irons. He then proceeded to the bay of Aquadilla, and sent
his first Lieutenant on shore to the Governor, with the assas-
sin, and a laconic epistle, of which the following is a copy :

" Sir. — The British colours disdain to protect a murderer. I send you
one, and hope he will meet the fate he merits. I arn, &c. T. MANBY."

The Governor, much pleased with this act of British gener-
osity, sent back a most complimentary letter, and forwarded
a large supply of fruit, vegetables, and many other articles,
for the use of le Bourdelois' crew*

Some time after this event, Captain Manby chased a large
privateer schooner, mounting 18 guns, into Aquadilla bays
where she anchored under a battery. An effort was made to
destroy her, but did not succeed ; and le Bourdelois having
received much damage in her masts, yards, and rigging, was
obliged to return to Jamaica to refit.

During his absence on a subsequent cruise in the Gulf of
Mexico, Captain Manby had the misfortune to receive intel-
ligence of Lord Lord Hugh Seymour's demise, by which he
was deprived of a most valuable friend. At the termination
of the war, he assumed the command of the Juno frigate, and
was employed with other ships to watch the motions of a con-
siderable fleet and army sent from France to recover St. Do-
mingo from the Blacks. The Juno being at length ordered
to England, the merchants of Jamaica, who had often witness-
ed Captain Manby's activity as a cruiser, collected a large
sum of money for him to carry home, and which yielded him
a welcome freight. He wa« put out of commission at Wool-
wich, in Aug. 1802.

Early in October following, Earl St. Vincent, who then
presided at the Admiralty, sent for Captain Manby, and on his
arrival said, " I don't like to see an active officer idle on shore j

208 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1J99.

I therefore give you the Africaine, one of the finest frigates in
the British navy." This ship was soon after commissioned at
Deptford, and mounted 48 guns. The short interval between
paying off the Juno, and his appointment to the Africaine, had
been passed by our officer at Rainham Hall, Norfolk, the re-
sidence of his friend and patron, the Marquis Towiishend, by
whom he had the honor of being introduced to H. R. H. the
Princess of Wales, who was much gratified on viewing the
innumerable curiosities collected by Captain Manby on his
voyage round the world, and presented by him to the Mar-
chioness Townshend. Many articles from the South Sea were
presented to the Princess, likewise some valuable furs of rare
animals, procured on the N. W. coast of America; which in-
duced H. R. H., whilst the Africaine was fitting out, to honor
Captain Manby with several invitations to dinner at Montagu
House, Blackheath.

Whilst off Gravesend, on his way to the Nore, Captain
Manby received an express from town, directing him to com-
mence an impress at midnight; this order was promptly
obeyed, and before sun rise on the following morning, 394
prime seamen were secured. From the Nore, he proceeded
with a 24-gun ship under his orders, to blockade two large
French frigates, with troops on board, lying at Helvoetsluys.
On this irksome service he continued about two years, during
which the Africaine had many narrow escapes from the sur-
rounding dangerous shoals, and was once set on fire in several
places by lightning, which destroyed the fore-mast, killed 1
of her men, and wounded 3 others.

The blockade of an enemy's port is a service which seldom
presents any incident worthy the particular attention of the
historian. The unwarrantable detention of Captain Manby's first
Lieutenant ho wever,by order of theFrench consular government,
at a time when he was employed in the sacred character of a
flag of truce, should not be passed without notice, in a work
of this description ; but as it is our intention to introduce this
subject when the time shall arrive for us to speak of Captain
W. H. Dillon, the officer alluded. to, it may be sufficient in
this place to say, that that gentleman, to the eternal disgrace
of the republic, was kept in captivity for the space of five
years, notwithstanding many appeals were made by the Bri-

POST-CAFfAINS OF 1799. 209

tish nation to Napoleon Buonaparte, the tyrannical ruler of
France against such indefensible conduct.

The French frigates which Captain Manby had so long
watched, being at length dismantled and passed through the
inland canal to Flushing, the Africaine was ordered to rein-
force the squadron off the Texel, where she continued several
months under the command of that most worthy officer, the
present Admiral Russell. Previous to his quitting the block-
ade of Helvoetsluys, Captain Manby, who had never molested
the Dutch fishing-vessels, was much mortified on observing
several shot fired by order of the French General at Scheveling
at the Africaine's jolly boat, in which four boys had been sent
to take shrimps from a sandbank near the Maas. By way of
retaliation, he that night seized sixty large vessels employed
hi the fishery, most of which were sent to Yarmouth, and then
addressed the followirig brief letter to the French myrmi-
don :

" Monsieur le General. — As you have prevented iny having Shrimps to
my Turbot, I will deprive you of Turbot to your Shrimps, by taking every
fishing vessel you have. I am, &c. " T. MANBY."

The Hague was thus deprived of the usual supply of fish
for many weeks.

During the period Captain Manby was employed off the
Texel j and while the Africaine, with three cables an end, was
riding out a heavy gale of wind, the main piece of her rudder
broke near the water line, and before it could be got clear off,
occasioned serious injury to the stern post. On the storm
abating, the Glatton was ordered to see her over to Yar-
mouth ; and accordingly towed her into the entrance of St.
Nicholas' Gat ; but it being the first of a flood tide when she
arrived there, secure anchorage could not be obtained. In
the night, a furious gale sprang up from the eastward, two
cables parted, and she was only saved from destruction by
cutting away all her masts. After refitting at Sheernees, she
escorted a large fleet of merchant vessels to Surinam, Esse-
quibo, Demerara, Trinidad, and other islands in the West
Indies, and arrived at Barbadoes with a crew of 340 men, in
perfect health. There Captain Manby received orders from
Sir Alexander Cochrane, to take charge of the homeward
bound trade, and to receive on board some invalids from the
VOL. n. p

210 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/99.

naval and military hospitals, for a passage to England. In
forty-eight hours after his departure from Carlisle Bay, the
yellow fever raged in the most malignant manner; and not
an hour passed without one or two gallant fellows being com-
mitted to a watery grave. The surgeon and his assistant fell
victims to this dreadful disease, the second day after it ap-
peared ; and Captain Manby himself took charge of the sick,
following the directions of Dr. Armstrong, who «kindly came
off from St. Kitt's, and recommended ten grains of calomel to
be administered every two hours to each patient, and the
cold effusion directly after. This had the effect of checking
the career of death in a slight degree ; bufe Captain Manby 's
anxiety for the safety of his valuable charge, added to feelings
of the most acute nature, brought on an attack of the fever,
which had nearly numbered him with the dead, and made
an impression on a good constitution that we fear will never
be totally eradicated. At Tortola, a medical assistant was pro-
cured ; and the Africaine, after losing nearly one-third of her
officers and crew, arrived in six weeks at Falmouth. On the
malignity of the disease being made known, she was ordered
to perform forty days quarantine at the Scilly islands, whither
a physician was sent from London to attend her. Being at
length released, she proceeded to Sheerness, and was there
put out of commission.

Captain Manby's next appointment was to the Uranie of
36 guns ; but that ship, being soon after found very defective,
was paid off and taken to pieces. The next frigate that be-
came vacant was the Thalia, to which he was appointed by
Lord Mulgrave ; who likewise gave him the command of a
small squadron stationed off Jersey ; where he passed a year
without any thing particular occurring, except the capture of
le Requin, a French privateer, of 14 guns. In 1808, he was
sent with the Medusa frigate and Locust brig, under his or-
ders, to look out for two French frigates, supposed to have
gone to Davis's Straits for the purpose of destroying our1
Greenland fishery. On this frigid service he continued twelve
weeks, without seeing an enemy. In the course of that pe-
riod, each vessel received much damage from the ice, as se-
veral days frequently elapsed without the possibility of seeing
fifty yards in any direction, owing to the prevailing thick fogs j

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 211

and the dangers by which they were surrounded could only
be avoided by listening for the breakers as they dashed on
immense floating masses, many of which measured two hun-
dred feet above the surface of the water, and extended between
two and three miles in circumference. On quitting this inhos-
pitable station, the Thalia and Medusa found an excellent
anchorage on the coast of Labrador, affording an abundant
supply of wood and water ; which Captain Manby surveyed,
and named Port Manvers, in honor of his esteemed friend the
late Earl of that name *. From thence he proceeded to New-
foundland, the Western Islands, Cadiz, Gibraltar, and Eng-
land.

Captain Manby's health was so much impaired by this
northern cruise, (having nearly lost the use of his right side,)
and several internal complaints, occasioned by the great
quantity of calomel he had taken in the West Indies, that
his medical advisers strongly urged him to give up his ship,
as the only chance of being restored to health. This advice
he reluctantly complied with, and nearly four years elapsed
before he became sufficiently convalescent to ask for employ-
ment. The downfall of Buonaparte soon rendering an appli-
cation unnecessary, he purchased an estate at Northwold in
Norfolk, where he now resides in a state of comfortable in-
dependence, anxiously looking for that step which alone can
reward an officer who has ever served his country with vigi-
lance, zeal, and fidelity.

Captain Manby married, in 1800, Miss Hamond, of North-
wold, by whom he has two daughters. His brother, George
W. Manby, Esq., formerly Barrack- Master at North Yar-
mouth, and who now holds an office of value in the Ordnance
department, is the gentleman who brought into practice the
method of saving shipwrecked persons, upon a plan published
by Serjeant Bell, about twenty years before.

The subject of this memoir is, we believe, preparing for
publication a new chart of the South Sea ; a work which will
prove that the innumerable islands in the Pacific Ocean are
all peopled from the same stock ; and that the same hierogly-

* See note at p. 183..

p 2

212 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

phical characters are known from one extreme of that sea to
the other.

Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

RIGHT HON. LORD JAMES O'BRYEN.

THIS officer is the second son of the late Edward O'Bryen,
Esq., a Captain in the army, brother of Murrough, the first
Marquis of Thomond * . During the greater part of the first
French revolutionary war, he commanded the Shark and
Childers sloops of war. His post commission bears date
Feb. 14, 1799. We subsequently find him hi the Emerald
frigate, assisting at the capture of St. Lucia and Surinam.
The following are extracts from the official letter of Com-
modore Hood, announcing the reduction of the latter co-
lony :

" Brigadier-General Hughes was ordered on board the Pandour, to en-
deavour to gain possession of Braam's point ; and instructions were sent to
Captain O'Bryen, then lying off the bar, to carry this service, in concert
with the Brigadier, into execution : he, with his usual intrepidity, lost not
a moment, but as the tide flowed, pushed in over the bar, and anchored
close to the battery of seven 18-pounders, followed by Captains Nash and
Ferris, in the Pandour and Drake. The fort commenced a brisk fire on
the Emerald, but was silenced by a few broadsides after the ships had
anchored, without any loss on our side : in it were captured 43 officers and
men, 3 of whom were wounded. Not being able to approach nearer in the
Centaur, the General and myself removed next morning to the Emerald ;
and having summoned the colony, received an answer containing a refusal
of the terms. The moment, therefore, the tide served, every effort was
made to get up the river, which, from the shallowness of the water, was
very difficult, the Emerald having passed through the mud in three feet
less than she drew. * * * * The indefatigable zeal of Captains
O'Bryen and Nash, in arranging and forwarding the supplies, and Captains
Maxwell, Ferris, Waring, and Richardson, in giving aid to the army, as
well as Captain Kempt, agent for transports, claim my warmest ap-
plause f." * * » *

* The O'Bryens are one of the aboriginal families of Ireland, and des-
cended from the kings of Thomond and Muuster ; their pedigree is traced
with peculiar exactness by the Editor of a Biographical Peerage of Ireland,
published in 1817.

f An account of the reduction of Surinam will be found under the head
of Sir Murray Maxwell, in this volume.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 213

Some time preceding this event, Captain O< Bryen captured
1'Enfaut Prodigue, a French schooner of 16 guns, the whole
of which were thrown overboard during a chase of seventy-
two hours.

On the 29th Nov. 1809, his late Majesty was pleased to
grant Captain O'Bryen, his brothers and sisters, the same
precedency as if their father, who died in 1801, had survived
his brother, the late Marquis, who died without male issue
Feb. 10, 1808.
v Lord James O'Bryen married, first, a Miss Bridgeman ;

and secondly, Jane, relict of Horsford, of the island of

Antigua, Esq. He is the heir presumptive to the Marquisate
of Thomond, now enjoyed by his brother.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford and Son.

RICHARD MATSON, ESQ.
POST commission dated March 22, 1799.
Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

RICHARD RAGGETT, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant, Dec. 15, 1778; and
obtained the rank of Commander about 1793. From this
period he commanded the Pluto and Dart sloops of war, on
the Newfoundland, and North Sea stations, until posted,
April 21, 1799. The latter vessel formed part of Sir Home
Popham's squadron at Ostend, in May 1798 *. At the close
of the war in 1801, we find him serving as Flag-Captain to
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Harvey, in the Royal Sovereign, a
first rate.

Early in 1805, Captain Raggett was appointed to the
Leopard 50, bearing the flag of the late Admiral Billy Doug-
las, on the Downs station. In 1807, he commanded the
Africaine frigate, and conveyed Lieutenant- General Lord
Cathcart from England to Swedish Pomerania, at that period
invaded by a French army, and defended by the Swedish Mo-
narch in person f. On the arrival of Admiral Gambier in the

* See Vol. I. note at p. 713, et seq.
t Gustavus, King of Sweden, after a most heroic defence, was obliged

214 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1/99.

Sound, with a fleet destined to attack Copenhagen, he pro-
ceeded with the same nobleman to join the expedition ; and
after the surrender of the Danish navy, had the charge of
fitting out one of the captured frigates, which was conducted
safely to the river Medway, by part of the Africaine's crew.
Towards the close of the same year, he accompanied a small
armament under Sir Samuel Hood, sent to obtain possession
of Madeira ; the garrison of which island surrendered with-
out resistance on the 26th Dec. He has since commanded
the Defiance, Conqueror, Spencer, and Albion, third rates.
The latter ship was put out of commission, May 31, 1822.
Agent. — J. Hinxman, Esq.

JOHN MACKELLAR, ESQ.

THIS officer, a descendant from an old and highly respec-
table family in Argyleshire, is the eldest son of the late Gene-
ral Patrick Mackellar, a Colonel of the Royal Engineers, by Miss
Elizabeth Basaline, of Minorca, on which island he was born
about 1768 *. He entered the naval service as a Midship-

to evacuate Stralsund and retire to the island of Rugenj from whence he
proceeded to Carlscrona in a Swedish ship of war, accompanied by the
British sloop Rosamond, commanded by the present Captain J. W. Deans
Dundas, who had been for some time stationed in Pert Bay, for the pur-
pose of receiving his Majesty, in the event of his being obliged to- abandon
the capital of Pomerania

* General Mackellar was descended from the Lairds of Main and Dale,
where the family possessed considerable landed property. His eminent
services at the reduction of Quebec, the Havannah, and other places, are
thus alluded to by General Mercer, of the same corps, in a letter addressed
to Captain John Mackellar, dated at Plymouth, Jan. 29, 1803 :

" Dear Sir. — As I had the happiness of serving under your late father,
for upwards of eleven years, it gives me much pleasure to comply with
your wish, and to state my real sentiments of his character in public and
private life. The late Colonel Mackellar, of the corps of Royal Engineers,
was, in all respects, a most excellent and moral man. He was an accom-
plished gentleman and scholar, and a most excellent officer. He had seen
much, and to him, most honorable service ; and, as a professional man,
we had not then, nor do I now believe we can produce, his equal in point
of general knowledge. He was Chief Engineer, under General Wolfe, at
Quebec ; and his professional ability, and unremitted exertions, were, in a
great measure, the means of preventing that place from falling into the

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. ^ 215

man on board the Romney, a 50-gun ship, bearing the broad
pendant of Commodore Johnstone, Jan. 6, 1781 ; and was
badly wounded in the leg during the action with M. de Suf-
frein, in Porto Praya bay f. He subsequently served under
Captains J. W. Payne Carnegie (now Earl of Northesk),
Adam (afterwards Viscount) Duncan, Benjamin Caldwell,
John Knight, and William Domett; in the Enterprise of 28
guns, on the West India and American stations ; Edgar 74 ;
Phoenix frigate ; Alcide a third rate, and Barfleur of 98 guns,
fitted for home service ; Salisbury 50, at Newfoundland ; and
Victory, a first rate, in the Channel.

During a cruise off the Havannah, the Enterprize assisted
at the capture of two valuable Spanish polacres ; a privateer
of 16 guns and 70 men, under American colours ; and six
other armed vessels : also at the destruction of the Count de
Grasse, carrying 20 guns and 110 men. She subsequently
sent her boats, one of which was commanded by Mr. Mac-
kellar, up a river, to destroy the store-houses belonging to two
plantations ; a service which was effectually performed, after
defeating a party of native militia, who opposed their landing.
They returned to the ship in safety, bringing with them a
considerable quantity of sugar. Whilst on the coast of Ame-
rica, she drove on shore a brig privateer, of 16 guns ; and
captured the Mohawk of 22 guns and 125 men. Mr.
Mackellar was employed in one of the two boats sent to des-

bands of the French, when they afterwards attacked it ; when, by the ad-
vice of your father, battle was given by General Murray, and the enemy
were completely defeated, and put to the rout. In this engagement
Mackellar was dangerously wounded, being shot through the body *.
He served as Chief Engineer at the taking of Martinique, Guadaloupe, and
at the siege of the Havannah ; and closed a most honorable life when Chief
Engineer at Minorca, (in 17/9)' Jt must afford you great pleasure to
recollect and reflect upon the character and virtues of such a father. * * *
" I am, dear Sir, most sincerely yours,

(Signed) " ALEX. MERCER."

*' P. 8. I forgot to mention, that he was of very great service in General
Braddock's unfortunate engagement ; and that lie was wounded at Oi-
wego."

* General Mackellar was badly wounded iu six placei.; aijt ;
t See Vol. I. note at p. 268, et seq.

216 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. I

troy the former, which was accomplished, notwithstanding
the resistance made by her crew, supported by some military,
and the presence of several French men of war lying in Bos-
ton harbour. The Mohawk was afterwards commissioned as
a sloop of war. Subsequent to the general pacification, the
Enterprize took possession of Montserratt, Nevis, St. Kitt's,
and Dominica; which islands had been restored to Great
Britain by the treaty of Versailles. She was paid off at Dept-
ford May 26, 17&4; and from that period Mr. Mackellar
served in the abovementioned ships *, until 1790, when he
was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Circe frigate,
employed cruising in the Channel.

A few months after the commencement of hostilities against
the French republic, our officer was appointed to the Assist-
ance of 50 guns ; in which ship we find him serving as first
Lieutenant, at the capture of 1'Elizabeth, mounting 40 guns,
with a complement of 300 men, by the squadron under Vice-
Admiral Murray, on the Halifax station, Aug. 28, 1796.

In Jan. 1797> Captain Mowatt, of the Assistance, having
succeeded to the command of the squadron employed in North
America, appointed Lieutenant Mackellar to the command of
a sloop of war recently launched at Bermuda ; but, on the ar-
rival of Vice-Admiral Vandeput, he was superseded and
obliged to return home as a passenger on board the St.
Albans 64. On his arrival in England, he was confirmed as
a Commander, by commission dated July 5, 1797 J and in
November following, he was appointed to the Minerva fri-
gate, armed en flute.

The Minerva formed part of the expedition sent against
Ostend, in May 1798 ; and Captain Mackellar, then labour-
ing under a severe attack of dysentery, after distinguishing
himself by his activity and zeal, appears to have been included
in the capitulation by which the British troops, under Major-
General Coote, and a detachment of seamen, landed from Sir
Home Popham's squadron, surrendered themselves as prison-
ers of war to a very superior French force f.

* The Barfleur and Victory bore the flag of the late Viscount Hood ;
and the Salisbury that of Admiral Milbanke.

f See Vol. I. note at p. 713, et seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 217

The following is an extract from the general order, issued
by the military commander-in-chief, dated Sand Hills, near
Ostend, May 20, 1798 :

" To Captains Winthrop of the Circe, and Mackellar of the Minerva,
Major-General Coote cannot sufficiently express how highly he is satis-
fied with the great assistance he has derived from those officers, by their
support to the general object of the expedition ; in conveying up to the
basin gates, the powder and materials necessary for their destruction, and
the effectual manner in which this object has been accomplished. To
Captain Mackellar, the Major-General has in a particular manner to con-
vey his marked approbation for his able conduct in lashing the vessels to
the basin gates after the explosion ; and in setting fire to and burning
them."

Captain Mackellar continued a prisoner in the citadel of
Lisle until the month of December following, when he had
the good fortune to be exchanged. The following is an ex-
tract from a letter written to him at a subsequent period,
by Major-General Harry Burrard, one of his fellow captives :

" To your exertions, and those of Captain Winthrop, I have always con-
sidered the service as extremely indebted, both in taking the command of
transporting the necessary combustible materials, and in arranging them
for the required effect. I well remember your particular exertions, after
the mine was sprung, in burning the vessels, and lashing them to the flood-
gates, to consume the whole ; and during the attack upon us the next
morning, you did every thing an officer could do in your situation. When,
a few days afterwards, I joined you in the citadel of Lisle, and found that
the French Commandant, with much liberality, but at his own risk, allowed
us the command of our own men, I soon had reason to rejoice that an officer
of your firmness of character, had the management of those who, generally
speaking, I considered as a very ungovernable, I may say, mutinous set of
fellows. The quota furnished, I believe, by two of the frigates, were well
behaved, and might be depended upon ; the rest, above 100, were mostly
from the gun-brigs, Irish and lawless, as undisciplined and difficult to keep
under as any men I have ever seen. We all considered ourselves as much
indebted to you, when, at the extreme hazard of your life, you went into
them, when in a state of mutiny, and at a time the Commandant, notwith-
standing his good will, found it necessary to point guns at them. By your
spirit and firmness, you brought them at length to a more sober way of
thinking ; shielding us all from the rigorous treatment reasonably to be ex-
pected from such a government at such a time." After noticing his atten-
tion to the victualling and clothing of his men, together with his anxiety
about those who fell sick, the Major-Geueral tells Captain Mackellar,
" These sentiments were not those of the moment only. We remained
together," says the gallant officer, " confined strictly to the citadel, for
above six months, where I had leisure, and surely opportunity enough to

218 POST-CAFfAJNS OF 1/99.

collect these observations \vitb correctness. I shall only add, that to your
firmness I consider we owed much of that lenity \ve continued to ex-
perience ; for had it not been for those exertions, and the support you
gave your officers, the very undisciplined state of the crews with us, must
have made it necessary for the government to be much more rigorous."

After commanding the Wolverene sloop of war for a very
few days, Captain Mackellar was appointed to the Charon,
a 44-gun ship, fitting for the Mediterranean station * ; arid
on his arrival at Gibraltar, April 27, 1799? he received a post
commission dated that same day, as a reward for his conduct
at Ostend, but particularly for remaining on shore with the
certainty of being made a prisoner, for the express purpose
of giving his aid to M ajor-General Coote, by assuming the
command of the seamen who had unavoidably been left with-
out an officer of sufficient rank to direct them, at a moment
when the presence of one was absolutely necessary.

From Gibraltar, Captain Mackellar proceeded to Constan-
tinople with presents for the Grand Seignior, and a transport
having on board a number of artificers and artillerymen, sent to
instruct the Turks in their respective branches of military
science. On his return he called at Smyrna, Sicily, and Minorca,
for the homeward bound trade collected at those places ; the
whole of which he conducted in safety to the rock, where he
was charged with despatches for England. On his passage
thither, he chased a privateer schooner, which escaped, after
throwing overboard her guns, 14 in number, boats, spars, and
anchors. He subsequently assisted at the evacuation of the
Helder.

Captain Mackellar's next appointment was to the Jamaica
of 26 guns, in which ship he escorted a fleet of merchantmen
to and from the Baltic, re-took an English mast-ship, and a
brig laden with corn ; and obliged a large privateer, com-
manded by the famous Blackeman, to lighten herself of guns,
&c., in order to avoid capture. In March 1801, he was ap-
pointed to the Terpsichore frigate, employed blockading
Boulogne and Calais ; on which service he continued till
June following, when he received orders to sail for the East
Indies with despatches, and a large quantity of specie.

In Dec. 1801, whilst the Terpsichore was under repair at

• See p. 204.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 219

Bombay, the Governor of that Presidency received informa-
tion that the Portuguese authorities on the coast of Malabar,
expected a French squadron, with a body of troops, to take
possession of their settlements ; and feeling the importance of
preventing the enemy establishing themselves at Dematm
and Isle Diu, applied to Captain Hargood, of H. M. S. Intre-
pid, the senior officer present, for assistance. The Intrepid
and Terpsichore being in a dismantled state, Captain Mac-
kellar instantly volunteered to take the command of an ex-
pedition; and his offer being accepted, sailed the same evening
in the Marquis Cornwallis of 48 guns, accompanied by the
Upton Castle Indiaman, Betsy, an armed brig belonging to
the Hon. Company, and several smaller vessels, on board of
which were embarked 1000 regulars and native troops ; it
being intended to have recourse to force, should the Gover-
nors of Demaun and Isle Diu refuse to admit British rein-
forcements. The object of the armament, however, was
gained by the address used upon the occasion, and to the
entire satisfaction of the government of Bombay, as will ap-
pear by the following official document :
i

" Political Department, Bombay Castle, Jan. 18, 1802.

" Sir. — I am directed by the Governor in Council, to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 14th inst., with enclosures ; and to express to
you his entire satisfaction and thanks for the services you have lately ren-
dered, in conveying British reinforcements to the Portuguese settlements
of Demaun and Diu ; and for the able and successful manner in which the
object of this expedition has been accomplished." * * *

(Signed) " R. RICHARDS, Sec. to Govt>"
" To Captain John Mackellar."

On the 27th March following, information was received at
Bombay, that the Governor (Hon. Jonathan Duncan), who
had gone to arrange a dispute with some of the native powers
in theGuzzeret country, was unexpectedly attacked, and having
lost many of the troops who formed his escort, compelled to
entrench himself at Surat. This being " a case of the greatest
emergency, and of particular importance to the reputation of
the British name in India," the Political Department re-
quested Captain Mackellar, the then senior officer at Bombay,
to proceed to Goa, at that time blockaded by Sir William
Clarke, and convey the troops under that officer's orders from

220 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1799.

thence to Surat. Captain Mackellar instantly sailed in the
Terpsichore, accompanied by the Trident 64, Betsy armed
brig, and two Indiamen, joined Captain Hargood at Goa ; and
such was the alacrity of all parties on this occasion, that in
seven days from his leaving Bombay, 3000 troops were landed
at Surat, the natives defeated, and Governor Duncan again in
possession of the country. For his exertions in thus pro-
moting the public service, Captain Mackellar was again hon-
ored with the thanks of the Bombay Government. We
subsequently find him employed in the blockade of Goa.

In May 1804, the subject of this memoir was, after a short
period of inactivity, appointed Agent for Transports and Pri-
soners of War, and Governor of the Naval Hospital at Halifax,
where he continued about six years. Soon after his return,
seeing no prospect of immediate employment afloat, he soli-
cited permission to join the Spanish navy, and having procured
strong letters of recommendation from Admiral Apodaca (the
Ambassador at the Court of St. James's) to the Cortes at
Cadiz, he proceeded thither in the Prevoyante store-ship ; but
on his arrival found the Spanish marine in so cramped and
inefficient a state, as to preclude all hope of obtaining a com-
mand suitable to his rank. He therefore relinquished the idea,
and proceeded to his native island, at that time the rendez-
vous of the British fleet, from whence he returned to England
in 1812.

On the 2d Aug. 1815, our officer was nominated Flag-
Captain to Rear-Admiral J. £. Douglas, with whom he pro-
ceeded to Jamaica in the Salisbury of 58 guns ; from which
ship he exchanged into the Pique frigate, Mar. 17, 1817-
Previous to his departure from the station, he had the gra-
tification of receiving the following address from the prin-
cipal merchants of Kingston :

" Kingston, Sept. 21, 1818.

" Sir. — We the undersigned merchants of this city, cannot suffer you to
leave the station without conveying to you the high sense we entertain of
your conduct.

" Your kind solicitude evinced on every occasion for the welfare of the
trade of this island, and your great attention to the safety of the convoys
with which you have been entrusted, deserve the thanks of this community
at large ; but those who have known and felt the good effects of your
exertions, are bound more particularly to address you on this occasion.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 221

" We hope your services will be duly appreciated on your return to the
mother country ; and with a tender of our sincere wishes for your health
and prosperity, we remain, with the highest respect, &c. &c. &c."

Signed by GEORGE KINGHORN, Mayor, and the
principals of forty-nine commercial firms.

The Pique, on her passage home, encountered a dreadful
hurricane, and nearly foundered : she was paid off at Dept-
ford, in Dec. 1818; since which Captain Mackellar has twice
visited the continent. He is married, and has three daughters.
His only brother, Colonel Neil Mackellar, C. B. was Aid-de-
Camp to Sir Adam Williamson, in all the battles at St. Do-
mingo ; served at the reduction of the Danish islands, by Sir
John T. Duckworth ; and commanded a brigade during the
late war in India, where he at present commands the 2d bat-
talion of the Royal Scots, in which corps he has served ever
since the commencement of his military career in 1788.

Agent.- Me. Inerheny, Esq.

JAMES OUGHTON, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant, Sept. 30, 1783 ; served
as such on board the Queen of 98 guns, bearing the flag of
Rear- Admiral Gardner, in the memorable battle of June 1,
1794; and was appointed to the command of the Hector
bomb, early in 1798. This vessel formed part of Sir Home
Popham's squadron at Ostend, in the spring of the same year.
He afterwards commanded the Sphynx, Isis, Windsor Castle,
and Leander, the three latter bearing the flag of the late Sir
Andrew Mitchell, with whom he served at the capture of the
Helder, in Aug. 1799, off Brest, and on the Halifax station.
His post commission bears date May 15, 1799.

Agent. — Me. Inerheny, Esq.

' ,7 .T

GEORGE BARKER, ESQ.

THIS officer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Mar.
15, 1782 ; commanded the Incendiary fire-vessel, and as-
sisted at the destruction of a French store-ship off Ushant,

222 POST-CAFFAINS OF 1J99.

Jan. 8, 17^7, and obtained post rank June 8, 1799- During
the late war he was employed as Regulating Captain at
Bristol.

Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

CHARLES ADAM, ESQ.

THIS officer was a Midshipman of the Monarch 74, and
commanded a gun-boat at the capture of the Cape of Good
Hope, in 1795 *. His good conduct on that occasion was
particularly mentioned in Sir George Keith Elphin stone's
public letter to the Admiralty. In the following year we find
him commanding the Swift sloop of war, and subsequently
the Albatross, on the East India station, where he obtained
the rank of Post-Captain in la Sybille, of 48 guns and 300
men, June 12, 1799.

On the 23d Aug. 1800, la Sybille assisted at the capture of
five Dutch armed vessels, and the destruction of twenty-two
merchantmen, in Batavia Roads f. Five days afterwards her
boats captured a brig of 6 guns and 16 men, from Samarang,
laden with rice. In October following she took no less than
twenty-four Dutch proas, four of which mounted 6 guns each,
laden with coffee, sugar, and rice, and five others in ballast.

On the 19th Aug. 1801, Captain Adam being off the Sey-
chelles, observed signals flying on St. Anne's ; upon which he
hoisted French colours, stood round the island, and discovered
an enemy's frigate, with her foremast out, and some smaller
vessels, lying in Mahe Road, the passage to which was ex-
tremely intricate, being formed by many dangerous shoals.
The necessary preparations having been made, and a man
placed at the mast head to look out for shoal water, la Sy-
bille stood in to attack the enemy, who at 10 A. M. fired a
shot, and shewed her colours : in fifteen minutes after la Sy-
bille, nowunder English colours, came to an anchor, with a
spring on her cable, and at 10h 257 commenced a smart fire,
which was instantly returned by the French frigate, assisted
by a well-constructed battery, erected in a raking position on
the neighbouring shore, from whence hot shot were frequently

* See Vol. I. p. 47. et seq. f See Vol. I. p. 771-

POST-CAPTAINS OF l~99. 223

fired. The cannonade was kept up with great spirit for nearly
twenty minutes, when the enemy struck her colours, cut, and
drifted on a reef. While an officer and party went to take
possession, la Sybille brought her broadside to bear on the
battery, the fire from which soon ceased.

The prize proved to be la Chiffonne, of 42 guns, four of
which, from her unengaged side, were mounted in the battery
on shore, and a complement of 250 men, 23 of whom were
killed, 30 wounded, and about 100, including those stationed
at the battery, effected their escape. La Chiffonne had sailed
from Nantz on the 14th April preceding, for the purpose of
landing 32 persons on the Seychelles, who had been suspected
of conspiring against the life of Napoleon Buonaparte, at that
time First Consul of the French republic. She was quite a
new frigate. Her fore-mast had been taken out and landed,
in order to have the cheeks, a fish, and some hoops replaced.
La Sybille had only 2 men killed, and a Midshipman slightly
wounded *.

Although la Chiffonne would certainly have been no match
for la Sybille in an action at sea, the dangerous circumstances
under which she had been approached and attacked, entitle
Captain Adam, his officers, and crew, to a considerable de-
gree of credit. The enemy was, it is true, inferior to the
British frigate in point of guns and men \ but she had such
advantages of position, as more than counterbalanced the
deficiency. *

On his arrival at Madras, in company with la Chiffonne,
Captain Adam was presented by the Insurance Company of
that place with an elegant sword, value 200 guineas. He re-
turned to England in la, Sybille, April 20, 1803, and at the
renewal of the war was appointed to the command of his
prize, which had been added to the British navy as a 36-gun
frigate. He subsequently served in the North Sea.

* Captain Adam at the same time took possession of a schooner and a
grab ketch, under French colours ; the former he gave over to Lieutenant
Campbell, late of the Spitfire schooner, who had been wrecked on the
Slierhome Duboplam, an African island hitherto unknown to the English,
and recently discovered by the inhabitants of the Seydhelle islands. Lieu-
tenant Campbell having charge of despatches from Bombay, bound to the
Red Sea, was thus enabled to proceed on his voyage.

224 POST-CAPfAINS OF 1799.

On the 10th June, 1805 *at 7 A. M. a division of the French
flotilla, consisting of two corvettes and fifteen gun- vessels, car-
rying in the whole 51 guns, 4 eight-inch mortars, and 3 field-
pieces, accompanied by fourteen transports, sailed from Havre,
bound to Fecamp; and when about mid-way between those
places, were chased by Captain Adam, who was cruising off the
coast with the Falcon sloop of war, Clinker gun-brig, and
Frances armed cutter, under his orders. At about 9h 30' la Chif-
fonne, then in 10 fathoms water, considerably a-head of her
companions, and close in with the flotilla, opened her fire upon
the enemy's van ; bm in a quarter of an hour, shoaling her
water, was compelled to haul farther off. At about 10h 30',
by which time the Falcon and Clinker had closed, she recom-
menced firing ; and shortly afterwards one of the French
vessels was observed in flames, which were, however, soon
extinguished ; at the same time some of the other vessels ran
on shore. Towards noon la Chiffonne again hauled out into
deeper water. Two hours afterwards the attack was renewed,
and at 3h 15; P. M. one of the enemy's brigs had her fore-top-
mast and main-mast shot away. As the British passed along
the coast, the forts kept up an incessant fire of shot and shells,
and continued to do so until the flotilla, &c. had completely
sheltered themselves under the batteries at Fecamp. The
engagement did not cease till past four o'clock ; by which time
la Chiffonne had been much cut up in her rigging, received a
shot between wind and water, besides several higher up, and
sustained a loss of 2 men killed, and 3 wounded. The Falcon
suffered in rigging and sails, and had 4 men wounded ; the
Clinker, 1 killed and 1 wounded. The French admit a loss
of 3 killed and 12 wounded, including the commander of a
gun-brig.

Towards the latter end of the same year we find Captain
Adam commanding the Resistance, a fine new frigate, in
which he captured 1'Aigle, a French privateer of 14 guns and
66 men, near the Owers, Dec. 27, 1807. On the 8th Mar. 1807,
his boats destroyed an armed schooner, and a chasse maree,
in the port of Archove, near Cape Machicaco. This service
was performed under the directions of Lieutenant Corbyn,
who had previously carried a battery which commanded the
harbour.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1799. 225

Captain Adam's next appointment was to the Invincible
74, on the Mediterranean station. In that ship he was em-
ployed on the coast of Catalonia, co-operating with the Spa-
nish patriots, to whose cause he rendered great service by his
activity and exertions.

The Invincible formed part of a squadron under Captain
(now Sir Edward) Codrington, assisting in the defence of
Tarragona, during the siege of that ill-fated city, by Marshal
Suchet's army, in 1811. The following is an extract from
the public letter of that excellent officer, to Admiral Sir
Charles Cotton, Bart., dated June 29 : ^

" I cannot conclude my history of our operations at Tar-
ragona without assuring you, that the zeal and exertion of
those under my command, in every branch of the various ser-
vices which have fallen to their lot, have been carried far be-
yond the mere dictates of duty. The Invincible and Centaur
have remained with me the whole time, immediately off Tar-
ragona; and Captains Adam, White, and myself, have
passed most nights in our gigs, carrying on such operations
under cover of the dark, as could not have been successfully
employed in sight of the enemy ; I do not mean as to mere
danger, for the boats have been assailed with shot and shells
both night and day, even during the time of their taking off
the women and children, as well as the wounded, without
being in the smallest degree diverted from their purpose.
It is impossible to detail in a letter all that has passed during
this short, but tragic period. But humanity has given in-
creased excitement to our exertions ; and the bodily powers
of Captain Adam have enabled him, perhaps, to push to a
greater extent that desire to relieve distress, which we have
all partaken in common *."

* The French army under Marshal Suchet inarched upon Tarragona
about the end of April, 1811, and the investment of that city was completed
to the sea, on the 4th May. Its defence became more obstinate as the
siege advanced ; for being open by sea, it was able to receive succours of
every kind, by means of the English squadron on the coast. On the 21st
June, the enemy made a furious assault, and after much bloodshed on both
sides, obtained possession of the lower town and its dependencies, by which
event 80 pieces of cannon fell into their hands. Although scarcely any
hopes now remained of an effectual resistance, the garrison in the body of
the place still held out, and determined to await a final assault. This took

VOL. II. Q

226 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

In April 1813, a party from the Invincible, in c6njunction
with some Spanish troops, surprised and obtained possession

place on the afternoon of the 28th ; when, a practicable breach being1 made,
the assailants rushed in, and almost immediately carried the town. Suchet,
who, in a former despatch, had expressed his apprehension of being
obliged " to set a terrible example, and intimidate for ever Catalonia
and Spain, by the destruction of a whole city" too well verified his me-
nace. He thus relates the catastrophe :

" The fury of the soldiers was increased by the resistance of the garrison,
who every moment expected their deliverance, and thought to secure suo-
cess by a general sortie. The fifth assault, still more vigorous than the
preceding, made yesterday in broad day on the fortification, has occasioned
a horrible massacre, with but little loss on our side. The terrible example
I foresaw with regret, in my last report to your highness, has taken place,
and will for a long time be recollected in Spain. Four thousand men have
been killed in the city ; from 10 to 12,000 endeavoured to make their
escape over the walls into the country ; 1000 have been sabred or drowned ;
nearly 10,000, of whom 500 are officers, have been made prisoners, and
are setting off for France ; nearly 1000 wounded are in the hospitals of
the city, where their lives were respected in the midst of the carnage.
Three Field- Marshals and the Governor are among the prisoners : many
others among the slain! !"

Further particulars of this day of horror are given in Captain Codring-
ton's letter, from which we have just quoted. He described the panic
that prevailed on the entrance of the French, in the following words :

" Those already without the walls stripped, and endeavoured to swim off
to the shipping, while those within were seen sliding down the face of the
batteries ; each party thus equally endangering their lives more than they
would have done by a firm resistance to the enemy- A large mass of
people, some with muskets and some without, then pressed forward along
the road, suffering themselves to be fired upon by about 20 French, who
continued running beside them at only a few yards distance. At length
they were stopped entirely by a volley from one small part of the enemy,
who had entrenched themselves at a turn of the road, supported by a second
a little higher up, who opened a masked battery of two field-pieces. A
horrible butchery then ensued ; and shortly afterwards the remainder of
these poor wretches, amounting to above 0,000, tamely submitted to be
led away prisoners by less than as many hundred French. The launches
and gun-boats went from the ships the instant the enemy were observed by
the Invincible (which lay to the westward) to be collecting in their trenches ;
and yet, so rapid was their success, that the whole was over before we
could open our fire with effect. All the boats of the squadron and trans-
ports, were sent to assist those who were swimming, or concealed under the
rocks ; and, notwithstanding a heavy fire of musketry and field-pieces,
which was warmly and successfully returned by the launches and gun-
boats, from 5 to 600 were then brought off to the shipping, many of them

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1J99. 227

of a French battery at Ampolla, and carried the town of
Perello by storm ; by which means two of the enemy's pri-
vateers, employed in maintaining a correspondence with Tar-
ragona, and intercepting the trade passing the mouth of the
Ebro, were taken ; and the communication between Tortosa
and the Col de Balaguer was much straightened *.

Early in June following, the fort of the Col de Balaguer,
situated in a most difficult pass, through which the high road
from Tortosa to Tarragona winds, armed with 12 pieces of
ordnance, including 2 ten-inch mortars, and 2 howitzers,
with a garrison of 101 officers and men-, was taken after a
siege of five days, by a naval and military force under the
command of Captain Adam and Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost,
of the 6/th regiment f. On the following morning, those

badly wounded. * * * * Our own ships, as well as the transports,
have been the receptacles of the miserable objects which saw no shelter
but in the English squadron ; and you will see by the orders which I have
found it necessary to give, that we have been called upon to clothe the
naked, and feed the starving, beyond the regular rules of our service."

Captain Codrington further stated, " that General Contreras, the Com-
mandant of the garrison, (to whose exposition of the siege we have already
alluded at p. 873, of our first volume,) was reported to have been wounded
and taken prisoner, but not before he had particularly distinguished him-
self; that the Governor of Tarragona (Gorizales) with a handful of men,
defended himself to the last, and was bayoneted to death in the square, near
his own house ; that man, woman, and child, were put to the sword upon
the French first entering the town ; and afterwards, all those found in uni-
form, or with arms in their houses ; and that the females of all ages un-
derwent the most brutal violation ; after which many of them were said to
have been thrown into the names, together with the badly wounded Spa-
niards. A thousand men were left by the ferocious Sachet to destroy the
works, and the whole city was set on fire."

Thus fell Tarragona ; and thus, through treachery, or if we may be
allowed to use a softer term, through heinous neglect on the part of Spanish
officers holding the most responsible situations, who omitted to have ammu-
nition forwarded in sufikieut quantity to the troops stationed on the walls,
the French were afforded an opportunity of carrying on their designs
against the southern provinces of Spain, without apprehension of any con-
siderable force remaining behind to check their movements. " Had I
been assisted by the army on shore" says General Contreras, " asj teas
assisted by the squadron of Commodore Codrington, Tarragona certainly
would not have fallen"

* See Commander JOSEPH CORBYN, in our next; volume,
t See Captain W. F. CARROLL, C. B.
ft 2

228 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

officers, accompanied by four others, and the same number of
dragoons, set off to reconnoitre in the direction of Tortosa.
After riding about sixteen miles, and when turning the corner
of a road, they suddenly fell in with Suchet's advance guard
of cavalry, who immediately charged them, and took one of
the dragoons prisoner. Finding they had got into a scrape,
Captain Adam and his companions retreated with all speed
towards the Col de Balaguer, and fortunately succeeded in
reaching Fort St. Phillipe, which they blew up a few days
afterwards, in consequence of Sir John Murray abandoning
the siege of Tarragona.

Captain Adam at present commands the Royal Sovereign
yacht. He married, Oct. 4, 1822, Elizabeth, daughter of the
late Patrick Brydone, Esq.

Agent. Muspratt, Esq.

JOHN STILES, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant, Sept. 12, 1781 ; and
served as such in the boats of the Windsor Castle, a second
rate, at the destruction of the French ships and arsenal at
Toulon, Oct. 18, 1793 *. In the following year, we find him
assisting at the reduction of Bastia f. He obtained the rank
of Commander in 1797 ; and was posted from the Camelion
sloop of war into the Theseus 74, on the Mediterranean sta-
tion, June 14, 1799.

During part of the late war, Captain Stiles commanded the
Alcmene frigate, and Adamant of 50 guns. In the latter ship
he captured the Nostra Senora de los Dolores, of 30 guns
and 315 men, May 6, 1806. Previous to his quitting the
Adamant, he received a piece of plate, value 500 guineas, as
a present from the Hon. East India Company, for his care
and attention to two of their fleets which had been put under
his protection. Mrs. Stiles died March 31, 1816.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

MICHAEL HALLIDAY, ESQ.

THIS officer was born in Dec. 1765, at St. Petersburg!* ;
where his father, a native of Dumfriesshire, N. B., practised

• S« Vol. I. p. 294, et seq. t See id. p. 251.

POST- CAPTAINS OF

as a Physician, and an inoculator of the small pox, after the
introduction of that system into the Russian empire, by Baron
Dimsdale. He entered the British naval service in Feb.
1 782, as a Midshipman, on board the Africa of 64 guns ; which
ship formed part of the fleet under Sir Edward Hughes, in
his last battle with M. de Suffrein, June 20, 1783 * ; on which
occasion Mr. Halliday received a slight wound in the arm.
The total loss sustained by the Africa, was 5 killed and 25
wounded.

Mr. Halliday, after serving for a short time in a merchant
vessel, completed his time as a Midshipman in the Crown
64, Fairy sloop of war, and Sprightly cutter. He then ac-
cepted a Lieutenancy on board the Twelve Apostles, a Rus-
sian first rate, and served under several Admirals ; one of
whom, Povalishin, was killed in a general battle with the
Swedes f. At the commencement of the war between Eng-
land and the French republic, he embarked as a Master's-
mate in the Nymphe frigate, commanded by the present Vis-
count Exmouth ; his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in
the British navy took place about Oct. 1793.

Mr. Halliday was first Lieutenant of the Inspector sloop of
war, during the West India campaign in 1794 ; and subse-
quently served in the Stag frigate, St. George, a second rate,
and Phoebe of 44 guns, the latter commanded by Captain (now
Sir Robert) Barlow, whom he gallantly seconded in the action
with la Nereide, a French frigate, .which surrendered after a
running fight of some duration, and close action of forty-five
minutes J.

In July 1798, Lieutenant Halliday was made a Commander,
and appointed to the Woolwich 44, armed en flute. On the
29th June in the following year, he obtained post rank in the
Leander, a 50-gun ship, which had been re-captured from the
French at Corfu, and restored to England by the Russians §.
During the greater part of the late war, Captain Halliday
commanded the Sea Fencibles at Penzance.

* See Vol. I, note at p. 425. f See id. note §, at p. 292, et teq.
I See Vol. II. p. 45, et seq. § See Vol. I, p. 397.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

: ^/J.^oiuo^JKu: t<>r.f9i8v-4%«e>;

WILLIAM GRANGER, ESQ.

THIS officer was a Lieutenant of the Fortitude, a third
rate, at the reduction of Corsica,, in 1794. He afterwards
commanded the Hope and Rattlesnake sloops of war, and Jupi-
ter 50, stationed at the Cape of Good Hope ; Hyaena, a 20-gun
ship, during the expedition to the Baltic, in 1801 ; Semiramis
frigate, and Cffisar of 80 guns. His post commission bears
date July 22, 1799.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

JOHN CHAMBERS WHITE, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant about 1790; appointed
to the command of the Sylph sloop of war in 1795 ; and cap-
tured the Mercury, a Dutch brig of 16 guns, off the Texel,
May 12, 1796. In September following, he took the Phoenix
French privateer of 4 guns, and 32 men.

On the 27th July 1797, the Sylph being on a cruise to the
southward of Ushant, in company with the Pomone, Artois,
and Anson frigate, and the Dolly cutter, discovered fourteen
sail of vessels, escorted by la Calliope of 36 guns, a corvette,
and an armed brig, standing into Hodierne bay. The two
latter escaped round the Penmarks ; but the frigate, not being
able to follow them, cut away her masts and ran ashore.
Captain White, with great promptitude stood in, and by a
well-directed fire, prevented her crew from using any means
to save the ship or stores. The next day she went to pieces.
Eight of the vessels under her convoy, laden with naval stores,
provisions, and clothing, were captured ; and two others des-
troyed. In this affair the Sylph had 6 men wounded.

On the 1 1th Aug. following, Captain White joined in an
attack made upon a French convoy at the entrance of the
Sable d'Olonne, on which occasion 2 of his crew were killed,
and 4 others wounded. A few days afterwards, he assisted
at the capture of five coasting vessels, and destruction of le
Petit Diable, a French cutter of 18 guns and 100 men *.

In Feb. 1798, the Sylph formed part of a squadron under

» See Vol. I. p. 403.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1J99. 231

the orders of the Hon. Captain Stopford, when that officer
captured la Legere a French ship privateer of 18 guns and 130
men. She subsequently intercepted the Eliza, an American
ship, with a valuable cargo, from Batavia, via Boston, bound
to Amsterdam ; la Fouine, a French national lugger of #
guns ; two Spanish letters of marque, richly laden ; le Debut,
.a French brig of 8 guns, pierced for 16, bound to Cayenne
with merchandise ; and £1 Golondina, a Spanish packet,
pierced for 20 guns, but with only 4 mounted.

Captain White was promoted to post rank, Aug. 2, 1 799 ;
and in Nov. 1800, obtained the command of the Renown, a
third rate, bearing the flag of Sir John Borlase rWarren,
then on the point of sailing for the Cadiz station.

Early in 1801, an armament under Rear- Admiral Gan-
theaume sailed from Brest, during the temporary absence of
our fleet, and after capturing the Success frigate, Incendiary
fire-vessel, and Sprightly cutter, arrived in safety at Toulon,
on the 19th Feb. Sir John Warren, on receiving information
that the enemy had been seen in the Straits of Gibraltar, lost
no time in proceeding up the Mediterranean, with the inten-
tion of following them, should they make a push for their
supposed destination, the coast of Egypt. Having refitted
his squadron at Minorca, he sailed from that island on the
24th Feb. ; but during the ensuing night, experienced a
heavy gale of wind, with much thunder and lightning, which
killed 3 men and wounded 2 others^ on board the Renown,
and did much damage to the other ships, thereby obliging
him to put back.

On the 4th March, the squadron being again fit for service,
'Sir John Warren quitted Port Mahon and steered for Palermo,
from whence he went to the Bay of Naples. On the 25th of
the same month, being then on his way to reconnoitre Tou-
lon, he was joined by the Salamine brig, whose commander
informed him Rear- Admiral Gantheaume had left that port
with seven sail of the line and three frigates, six days before.
Sir John immediately altered his course to the eastward, and
at day-break on the 26th, fell in with the enemy between
Sardinia and Maritime. All sail was instantly made in chase,
and towards the evening the British appeared to be gaining
upon them j but unfortunately the night proved very foggy,

232 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

of which the French Admiral is supposed to have availed
himself, by hauling to the northward, as they were not to
be seen the next morning *.

It being reported that the enemy's squadron had embarked
upwards of 4000 troops at Toulon, Sir John Warren lost no
time in proceeding towards Alexandria, hoping to prevent
such a reinforcement from joining the French army in Egypt.
On his forming a junction with Lord Keith on the 20th April,
he received the melancholy tidings of the death of his only
son, an officer in the guards, who had recently been killed in
battle.

From Alexandria, Sir John was sent with a squadron to
Coron bay, in the Morea, where he procured supplies of fresh
meat, wine, and vegetables, of which the ships were much in
want, their crews being sickly, and symptoms of scurvy ap-
pearing amongst them, in consequence of their having been
nearly six months upon salt provisions and bad water. He
subsequently touched at Corfu, Malta, and Minorca j looked
into Toulon, and ultimately proceeded off Porto Ferrajo,
which place had long been besieged by a French army, and
gallantly defended by the Tuscan troops composing its gar-
rison. It is almost needless for us to observe, that his en-
deavours to deliver a suffering, brave, and faithful people,
from the state of privation to which they were reduced, had
the desired effect ; and, that owing to the measures adopted
by him, Buonaparte, who then presided over the con-
sular government of France, was baffled in his designs upon
that post, until his attempts were totally frustrated by the
treaty of Amiens f. Sir John Warren's private affairs now
rendering it absolutely necessary for him to return home, he

• Sir John B. Warren's squadron consisted of the Renown, Dragon,
Gibraltar, Hector, and Alexander 74's ; Athenienne 64 ; Haarlem, a
2-decker, armed en flute ; and Mercury frigate. The French squadron
subsequently captured the Swiftsure, a British 74. See Vol. I, p. 479.

f On the 14th Sept. 1801, Captain White superintended the landing and
re-embarkation of 689 seamen and marines, sent from the squadron to as-
sist the garrison of Porto Ferrajo in a sortie, made for the purpose of des-
troying the enemy's batteries ; a service which he performed in a very cre-
ditable manner, under a heavy fire from the French, and for which Sir
John Warren acknowledged him to be " entitled to his warmest thanks."

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799. 233

shifted his flag into la Minerve frigate, leaving the subject of
this memoir in the Renown, as a private ship, at Minorca.

At the renewal of the war in 1803, Captain White pro-
ceeded with the squadron under Sir Richard Bickerton from
Malta, to blockade Toulon, where he continued tilljuly 1804,
when the Renown was ordered to relieve the Kent 74, at
Naples ; in which latter ship he returned to England with
1,060,000 dollars, received on board at Cadiz. We next find
him serving as Flag-Captain to Sir John B. Warren in the
Foudroyant of 80 guns, at the capture of the French Rear-
Admiral Linois, March 13, 1806*.

In Nov. 1810, Captain White took the Hibernia, a first
rate, fitted for the flag of Sir Samuel Hood, to the Mediter-
ranean ; and on his arrival at Port Mahon, removed into the
Centaur 74. After serving for some time with the in-shore
squadron off Toulon, he was sent to co-operate in the defence
of Tarragona ; on which service he continued under the orders
of Captain (now Sir Edward) Codrington, till the fall of that
unfortunate city, June 28, 1811 f. In April 1814, Captain
White witnessed the destruction of a French 74, three brigs
of war, and several smaller vessels, in the neighbourhood of
Bourdeaux J.

Our officer married, May — , 1816, Charlotte Elizabeth,
daughter of General Sir Hew Dalrymple, Bart.

Agents. Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

CHARLES CAMPBELL, E^Q.

POST commission dated Aug. 2, 1799.
Agent. — — :

GEORGE WHITE, ESQ.

POST commission dated Aug. 30, 1799.
Agent. —

* See Vol. I. p. 435, et seq. f See Vol. II. p. 225.

\ See Vol. I. p.57!>.

234 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1799.

ADAM MACKENZIE, ESQ.

THIS officer was present, when a Midshipman, in most of
the actions fought between the British and French fleets,
from 1778 till the peace of 1783; particularly in those of
Keppel, Byron, and Rodney. He was at the relief of Gibral-
tar by Earl Howe; obtained his first commission in 1790 ;
and served as senior Lieutenant of the Southampton frigate,
on the glorious 1st June, 1794. In 1797, we find him com-
manding the Pylades sloop of war, and employed by the Port-
Admiral at Sheemess, to negociate with the mutineers at the
Nore, and to assist in securing the dock-yard from any at-
tempt they might make to obtain possession thereof.

From this period, the Pylades was stationed principally on
the coast of Holland, where Captain Mackenzie greatly dis-
tinguished himself by his zeal and activity. On the 10th
July, 1799, he directed a boat attack on some of the enemy's
vessels near the island of Ameiand, brought out three valua-
ble merchantmen, and burnt a galliot, laden with ordnance
stores. On the 1 1th of the following month, he was despatch-
ed by Captain Frank Sotheron (now a Vice- Admiral), under
whose orders he had recently been placed, with the Espiegle
of 14 guns, Captain James Boorder, and Courier hired cutter,
Lieutenant Thomas Searle, to attack the Crash, formerly a
British gun-brig, which lay moored between Schiermonikoog
and the main land of Groningen. The Courier, working
faster to windward than her consorts, was sent a-head to
engage the Crash until their arrival ; which Lieutenant Searle
did in the most gallant manner, although the enemy's force,
when compared with that of his little vessel, was as five to
one *. The wind blowing right down the channel, which
was so narrow that,the Pylades and Espiegle could not stand
on each tack more than twice their length ; and the soundings
in many places not exceeding two and a quarter fathoms,
delayed their approach considerably; they however per-
severed, and at length got within pistol-shot of the enemy,
who was consequently compelled to surrender, but not until
he had made a most gallant and determined resistance. The

* The Crash mounted 12 carronades, 32, 24, and 18-poun;lers.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1/99. 235

Pylades on this occasion had 1 man killed and 3 wounded.
Her boats, in company with others belonging to Captain
Sotheron's squadron, had in the interim obliged a large armed
schooner to run ashore on the main land, in order to avoid
capture.

The Crash being of a light draught of water was imme-
diately manned, and the command of her given to Lieutenant
James Slade of the Latona frigate ; Lieutenant Salusbury P.
Humphreys, of the Juno, was at the same time appointed to
the Undaunted, a schuyt which he had cut out from under
the protection of the schooner on the main, and which Captain
Mackenzie ordered to be armed with two 12-pr. carronades,
for the purpose of acting against a battery of 6 guns on
Schiermonikoog, and the Vengeance schooner, carrying two
long 24-pounders, 4 guns of smaller calibre, and 70 men,
lying with a large row-boat, and several merchant vessels,
near that island. ,

On the 13th at three P. M., the Crash and Undaunted
moved on to the attack, accompanied by the launches of the
Latona and Pylades, each mounting a 12-pr. carronade, and
several smaller boats armed with swivels and muskets, the
whole under the orders of Lieutenant Slade. Unfortunately
the Crash grounded too far from her destined station to afford
efficient aid to Lieutenant Humphreys, who steered his vessel
steadily towards the schooner, and succeeded in getting along-
side of her just after she had been deserted by her crew. The
tide, however, was so rapid, that he could not hold on, and
the roundness of both vessels' sides prevented him jumping
on board. He therefore seized a rope, and leaping into the
sea, attempted to reach the schooner for the purpose of at-
taching it to her ; but soon found he had no chance against
the tide, and was consequently obliged to be hauled back to
the Undaunted. Fortunate for him was this failure ; for
scarcely had he obtained footing on his own deck, when an
explosion took place on board the Vengeance, by which she
was blown to atoms '*.

~* The Dutchmen are supposed to have left a slow match burning near
a train of powder leading to the magazine, when they fled to the shore.
Had the Undaunted's crew succeeded in boarding the schooner, they

236 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

The remainder of this small flotilla had in the interim suc-
ceeded in driving the enemy from their battery on the island,
the guns of which were soon turned upon the fugitives, and
afterwards spiked by Lieutenant Cowan of the Pylades,
whilst the rest of the detachment, assisted by the brave com-
mander of the Undaunted and his crew, brought off two brass
field pieces, the row-boat, and twelve schuyts. This service
was performed without the loss of a man on our side ; but the
Dutch are said to have suffered considerably.

Captain Mackenzie subsequently assisted at the capture of
the Dutch fleet under Rear- Admiral Storey * ; and obtained
post rank Sept 2, 1799. From this period he remained on
half-pay till Oct. 1801, when he received an appointment to
the Brilliant of 28 guns ; in which ship he continued during
the peace of Amiens. At the renewal of the war in 1803, he
joined the Magicienne frigate ; and during the ensuing winter,
was employed blockading the enemy's coast. We next find
him escorting some vessels, having on board ten troops of
horse and 1000 infantry, to the West Indies, where he had
several skirmishes with the enemy's batteries, and destroyed
many vessels, no account of which was ever published.

The Magicienne formed part of the squadron under Sir
John T. Duckworth, in the action off St. Domingo, Feb. 6,
1806 f ; and was subsequently ordered to convoy the trade
from Jamaica to England. After passing through the Gulf of
Florida, Captain Mackenzie encountered a tremendous hur-
ricane, which proved fatal to twenty of the finest vessels under
his charge, and obliged him to steer direct for Bermuda, to
repair the damages done to his own ship.

In the following year, Captain Mackenzie commanded the
Prince of Wales, a second rate, bearing the flag of Admiral
Gambier, at the capture of the Danish navy. On his return
from Copenhagen, where he had acted as Commissioner of
the Arsenal during the equipment of the prizes J, he was ap-

would most likely have shared her fate, as only four or five minutes
elapsed between the separation of the vessels and the explosion.

* See Vol. I. note at p. 414, et seg. t See Vol. I. note at p. 262.

J Admiral Gambier in his letter to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated Oct. 20,
1807, says : " I should not do justice to the diligent attention and arduous

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1799.

pointed to the President frigate, and soon after ordered to
Brazil; from whence Sir W. Sidney Smith despatched him
to negociate with the Viceroy of Buenos Ayres (Linieres) for
the opening of the South American ports to English com-
merce. On his return from this service, he joined the flag
of Rear- Admiral de Courcy, by whom he was stationed to
attend upon and afford protection to the royal family at Rio
Janeiro. Previous to his departure from thence, he received
the insignia of the Portuguese order of the Tower and Sword.
He afterwards commanded the Armada, a new 74, in the
Channel and North Sea *.

On the 13th May, 1820, our officer was appointed to the
Creole of 42 guns. From her he removed about Jan. 1821,
into the Superb 78, on the coast of South America. In the
latter ship he rounded Cape Horn during the shortest days of
winter, and by his appearance in the Pacific, saved British
property to the amount of several millions sterling. He was
re-appointed to the Superb, stationed as a guard-ship at Ply-
mouth, June 27, 1822 ; and died in Nov. 1823.

FRANCIS VESEY, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1793 ; commanded
1'Amaranthe of 14 guns, at the Leeward Islands in 1797 ;
and captured le Vengeur, a French schooner letter of marque,
mounting six 4-pounders, and laden, with flour, near Jamaica,
April 13, 1799. This vessel, notwithstanding her vast infe-
riority, maintained a close action with 1'Amaranthe for one
hour and eight minutes, during which she had 14 men killed
and 5 wounded out of her crew, including passengers, only
36 in number. The English brig had 1 man killed and 3
wounded.

Captain Vesey obtained post rank Sept. 16, 1799 ; and
during the remainder of the war, commanded the Volage, on

endeavours of Captain Mackenzie to fulfil the civil duties of the arsenal,
which were committed to his management and superintendence, if I did
not on this occasion express my warm approbation of his exertions $ and I
beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships' favorable notice."

* Whilst at Brazil, Captain Mackenzie was removed from his frigate
to the Bedford 74 ; but he came home in the President.

238 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

the Jamaica station. In 1804, we find him serving iu the
Brilliant of 28 guns ; and previous to the peace of 1814,
superintending the payment of ships at Portsmouth.
Agent. — Harry Cook, Esq.

HENRY GARRETT, ESQ.

Commissioner of the Victualling at Portsmouth.
(Residetit tit the Royal Hospital, Haslar.)

IF we mistake not, this officer is a son of" the late Daniel
Garrett, of Portsmouth, co. Hants, Esq. He was born in
1774 ; entered the naval service in 1787; and served his
time as a Midshipman on board the Hebe frigate, under the
command of the present Sir Edward Thornbrough, and the
late Captain Alexander Hood.

In June 1793, Mr. Garrett was made a Lieutenant, and ap-
pointed to the Princess Royal of 98 guns, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Goodall ; during the occupation of Toulon by
the allied forces, he served on shore with a party of seamen
belonging to that ship *.

Lieutenant Garrett obtained the command of the Trial
cutter, armed with eight long 3-pounders, and four 12-pr.
carronades, in Dec. 1796 ; captured le Courier de la Mer, a
French brig privateer of 12 guns, near Portland, July 25,
1797 ; and assisted at the destruction of la Confiante frigate,
and a republican cutter, off Havre, May 1, 1798 f- Towards
the close of the same year, he was promoted to the rank of
Commander, in the Alecto fire-ship j and in April 1799, ap-
pointed to the Calypso sloop of war. His post commission
bears date Sept. 16, 1799.

Our officer's next appointment was, early in 1802, to the
Texel of 64 guns j which ship was soon after paid off at Chat-
ham, in consequence of the peace of Amiens. At the re-
newal of hostilities in 1803, we find him commanding the
Southampton district of Sea Fencibles ; and from Sept. 1805,
till Aug. 1808, the Kent 74, Ville de Paris, and Royal So-
vereign, first rates. During the remainder of the war, he
superintended the Victualling department at Deptford, where

• See Vol. I. p. 236. f See Vol. I. p. 448.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1799. 239

he continued till Feb. 1820, at which period he received his
present appointment.

Mrs. Garret died in child-bed Aug. 26, 1812. The Com-
missioner's eldest son, a promising young man, was acting as
a Lieutenant of the Curlew, and died at Bombay in Nov.
1819. His sister (also deceased) married Captain (now
Admiral) Purvis.

WALTER BATHURST, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790; and con-
firmed as a Post-Captain, Oct. 24, 1799. Previous to the
latter promotion, he had taken the Ville de Paris, a first rate,
to the Mediterranean, where he received the fiag of Earl St.
Vincent, and from, whence he brought her home as a private
ship, about August in the same year. The Earl re-hoisted his
flag in the Ville de Paris, as commander-in-chief of the
Channel fleet, April 25, 1800; and Captain Bathurst soon
after joined the Eurydice of 24 guns ; in which ship, being
on his return from convoying the outward bound Quebec
trade, he captured le Bougainville French privateer of 14 guns
and 67 men ; andaDanish East Indiaman, about April 1801.
On the 20th Oct. following, he sailed for the East Indies with
despatches relative to the peace of Amiens.

Whilst on that station, Captain Bathurst removed succes-
sively into the Terpsichore and Pitt frigates ; the former of
which captured a Dutch East Indiaman early in 1805 ; the
latter was employed blockading Port Louis, and took several
prizes in Jan. 1806. On the 20th of that month she had 1
man killed and her hull much damaged by the fire from Fort
Canonnier, to which she was exposed during twenty minutes,
without being able to return a single gun.

The Pitt subsequently resumed her original name, Salsette,
and was employed in the Baltic, under the orders of Sir
James Saumarez. On the 23d June 1808, Captain Bathurst
captured the Russian cutter Apith of 14 guns and 61 men ;
4 of whom were killed, and 8, including her commander, a
Lieutenant in the Imperial navy, wounded, before she could
be induced to surrender. The Salsette, on this occasion, had
a marine killed by the cutter's fire.

240 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

In July 1809, Captain Bathurst conducted a division of
Earl Chatham's army to Walcheren. Towards the latter end
of 1810, he removed into the Fame 74; in which ship he was
actively employed on the Mediterranean station during the
remainder of the war.

Captain Bathurst married, hi 1808, Miss Marianne Wood,
of Manchester Street, Manchester Square, London.

Agent. M'Inerheney, Esq.

ADAM DRUMMOND, ESQ.

THIS officer obtained post rank Oct. 30, 1799. During the
first revolutionary war, he commanded the Peterell sloop of
war, and Bull Dog bomb. The former vessel was employed
under Commodore Nelson in 1796 * ; the latter assisted
at the capture of the San Leon, a Spanish brig of war, on the
Lisbon station, Nov. 29, 1798 f ; and the bombardment of
Alexandria in 1799. We subsequently find him commanding
the Carysfort of 28 guns, Dryad frigate, and Leviathan 74.
The Dryad captured le Rennair, a French privateer of 14
guns and 96 men, on the Irish station, March 22, 1808.

Captain Drummoad married, May 28, 1801, Lady Char-
lotte Menzies, eldest daughter of the Duke of Atholl, and
widow of Sir John Menzies, Bart., by whom he has several
children.

Agents. — Messrs. Brine, Chords, and Co.

ROBERT HALL, ESQ.

THIS officer served the greater part of his time as a Mid-
shipman under the late Admiral George Murray (brother of
John, third Duke of Atholl) in the Levant and Cleopatra
frigates, and was promoted from the latter to the rank of
Lieutenant, Feb. 23, 1782.

From this period, Mr. Hall was almost constantly employed
in different ships and under various commanders, among
whom were Commodore Sir John Lindsay, and Captains
Bom-master and Hartwell, till Feb. 1793, when he joined his

* See Vol L pp. 519 and 520. f See Vol. H. note at p. 191.

POST-CAPTAIX3 OF 1799. 241

early friend, Commodore Murray, in the Duke, a second rate ;
which ship was paid off on her return from the West Indies,
at the latter end of the same year.

In April 1/94, after fitting out the Glory of 98 guns, he
removed into the Resolution 74, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral Murray, who had recently been promoted, and no-
minated commander-in-chief on the North American station.
On the 3d July, 1795, Lieutenant Hall was appointed by bis
patron to command the Lynx sloop of war, but his commis-
sion does not appear to have been confirmed by the Admiralty
till Jan. 1/96; previous to which, he had been superseded by
another officer, on whose demise, in October following, he
was re-appointed to that vessel.

Among the captures made by Captain Hall whilst in the
Lynx, we find la Solide, I'lsabelle, and le Mentor, French
privateers, the latter carrying 14 guns and 79 men. 3340;

The capture of la Solide was considered by the merchants
and inhabitants of St. John's Newfoundland, a service of
great importance to their interests, she having hoisted the
bloody flag, and threatened to plunder and lay waste the
neighbouring defenceless coast. They accordingly sent Cap-
tain Hall a letter of thanks, for the protection he had thus
afforded to the colony *.

We next find Captain Hall commanding the Assistance of
50 guns ; in which ship he conveyed H. R. H. the late Duke
of Kent, from Halifax to England, aod arrived at Plymouth
Aug. 31, 1800. During the remainder of the war, he com-
manded the Waakzaamheid, a small frigate, on the North Sea
station. His post commission bears date Nov. 18, 1/99.

In Aug. 1803, our officer was appointed pro tempare, to the
Revolutionnaire frigate, and ordered to take the 25th regi-
ment to Cork. He subsequently commanded the Malabar of
54 guns ; and after cruising for some time in the North Sea,
convoyed a fleet of merchantmen to the West Indies.

On the 2d Jan. 1806, Captain Hall being off Cuba, in com-
pany with the Wolfe sloop of war, sent the boats of his ship
to assist that vessel in bringing out from Port Azarades, two

* La Solide was taken in the bay of Fundy, where she had been harboured
by the Americans.

VOL. II.

242 POST- CAPTAINS OF 1/99.

large French privateers, which service was performed with
the loss of 7 men killed, drowned, and wounded*.

Captain Hall was soon after obliged to invalid at Jamaica,
through ill-health. His next appointment was in Nov. 1808>
to the Ruby 64; from which ship he was superseded in the
Baltic, about July following. During the preceding three
months, he was employed protecting different convoys through
the difficult passage of the Belt.

On his return to England, Captain Hall assumed the com-
mand of the Puissant at Spithead. From her he removed in
April 1810, to the Royal William flag-ship, where he con-
tinued until the expiration of Sir Roger Curtis's command, in
the spring of 1812. At the close of the same year, he was
appointed to superintend all the supplies required by the
Russian fleet in the river Medway ; this duty he performed for
the space of ten months : after which he became Flag-Captain
to Viee-Admiral Domett, cOmmander-in-chief at Plymouth,
on whose retirement, in July 1815, he was superseded from
the Impregnable, and placed ort half-pay f. ' He has since
commanded the ships in ordinary at Portsmouth, during the
customary period of three years.

t.— Sir F. M. Ommanney, M. P.

4i :

to TVU, •-!.••••/• -Jiii : — Tr-Vtri"") r."f

,,,, ROBERT LLOYD, ESQ. .M!i

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant- about the year 1790 ;
and, commanded the Racoon sloop of war on the North Sea
Station, m 1,797- On the llth Jan. 1798, he captured, after a
shorfymnning figjit, le Policrate, French privateer of 16, guns,
and 72 men ; th,e Racoon on this occasion had 1 killed -and 4
wounded. Eleven, days iafter, Captain Lloyd also intercepted
la Peruke of 2 guns and 32 men; he, had some time previously
taken les Amis, of similar force. On the 20th Oct. following,
he destroyed le Vigilante, of 14 guns and 50 men.

.Early in Juty 1799, during a dark and foggy night, the
Benjamin and Elizabeth, West Indiamanj being about twelve
miles from Dungeness, was suddenly boarded on the quarter

, * See Captain GEORGE CHARLES MACKENZIE.

f Vice-Admiral Domett had his flag1 in the Salvador del Mundo, previous

to its being hoisted on board the Impregnable.
a . f a

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1799.

by a French lugger. Mr. White, the master, with his mate
and two men, defended their vessel with all the gallantry
that characterises British seamen, and had actually beaten
the enemy from their deck, when they were boarded on the
beam by a second lugger, the crew of which behaved in a
most inhuman manner *. Fortunately, Captain Lloyd, who
was at that time stretching out from under the land, heard the
firing, and re-captured the ship a few minutes after the lug-
gers had hauled off. In a short time he also got sight of them,
and immediately opened his broadside upon the nearest. On
the smoke clearing away, not a vestige of her was to be seen,
she having gone to the bottom with all on board. The other,
though at a much greater distance, was still plainly to be
seen ; but the fog increasing, she succeeded in effecting her
escape.

On the 2d Dec. in the same year, Captain Lloyd captured
le Vrai Decide, privateer, of 14 guns and 41 men. The
next day, after a running fight of about forty minutes,
he succeeded in coming up with a lugger, which he had dis-
covered in the act of boarding an English merchant brig; and
after a short action, compelled her to surrender. She proved
to be 1'Intrepide of 16 guns and 60 men, 13 of whom were
killed and wounded. The Racoon had her commander and 1
seaman wounded.

Captain Lloyd was promoted to post rank Dec. 6, 1799 ;
and in 1801, commanded the Mars, a* third rate, bearing the
flag of Rear-Admiral Thornbrough, in the Channel fleet.
During the late war with the United States, we find him com-
manding the Plantagenet 74, on the American station, where
he captured a great number of coasting vessels. He has not
been employed since the peace.

Agent.— Harry Cook, .Esq.

JOHN CHESSHYRE, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant July 24, 1781 ; Com-
mander in 1794 ; and Post-Captain Dec. 26, 1799. He com-

? The remainder of the West Indiaman's crew consisted of 8 foreigners,
who did not feel themselves bound to fight, and consequently kept aloof.

R 2

244 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800

raanded the Plover sloop of war, and captured TErin-go-
Brah, French privateer, of 10 guns and 45 men, in the North
Sea, Oct. 28, 1798. During part of the late war we find him
employed in the Sea Fencible service.
Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

SIR THOMAS LIVINGSTON, BART.

Keeper of Linlithgow Palace.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1/90 ; commanded
the Echo sloop of war at the Cape of Good Hope in 1/96 j
and the Expedition, a 44-gun ship, armed en flute, employed
conveying part of the Russian contingent from Revel to Eng-
land, in 1799. His post commission bears date Jan. 13,
1800. During the remainder of the war, we find him in the
Diadem and Athenienne 64's ; the former was employed as
a troop-ship, and attached to the expedition against Quiberon
and Belleisle, under Sir Edward Pellew * ; the latter accom-
panied Sir John Borlase Warren to the coast of Egypt, in
quest of a French squadron under M. Gantheaume f ; and
returned to England Sept. 11, 1802.

Sir Thomas Livingston's next appointment was, we believe,
to the Renommee frigate , in which ship he captured the
Vigilante, a Spanish brig of war, mounting 18 guns, with a
complement of 109 men, near Cape de Gatt, April 4, 1806.
By the fire from this vessel, and Fort Callaretes, under the
protection of which she had anchored, the Renommee had 2
men wounded. The Spaniards sustained a loss of 4 men
killed and wounded.

In the course of the same year, the boats of the Renommee
captured a Spanish schooner of 9 guns and 38 men J ; a
tartan of 4 guns ; two settees laden with grain, each mounting
3 guns, and another of 2 guns.

On the 7th Nov. 1807, a detachment sent by Sir Thomas
from his own ship, and the Grasshopper sloop of war, carried
two of the enemies' vessels, lying under the protection of the

* See Vol. I, p. 219, et seq.
t See Memoir of Captain J. C. WHITE.

J A party from the Nautilus sloop of war assisted on this occasion j see
Memoir of Captain SIR WILLIAM PARKER, Bart.

POST-CAPFAINS OF 1800. 245

Torre de Estacio, on the coast of Murcia j but unfortunately
there was so little wind, and the current ran so strong, that
they both got aground ; and, notwithstanding every exertion
was used for the purpose of getting them off, it was found
impossible. Their destruction would of course have been
easily effected, had not the commanding officer, Mr. Webster,
an acting Lieutenant, been swayed by the nobler motive of
humanity to abandon them, on finding they contained many
helpless men, women, and children. Mr. Thomas Bastin,
Purser of the Grasshopper, serving as a volunteer in the boats,
and the coxswain of the Renommee's pinnace, were the only
persons hurt on this occasion; they were both very badly
wounded.

Sir Thomas Livingston at present commands the Genoa
of 74 guns: to which ship he was appointed Oct. 3, 1821.
On the 12th Jan. preceding, the Sheriff Deputy and a jury of
the county of Edinburgh, declared him nearest and lawful
male heir in general, of James, first Earl of Calender, Lord
Livingston, of Scotland. His lady is a daughter of Sir Gil-
bert Stirling, Bart.

Agent. — Isaac Clementson, Esq.

LUCIUS HARDYMAN, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath.
THIS officer is a son of the late .Captain Hardyman, of
Portsmouth, and a brother of Major-General Hardyman, who
died in India Nov. 28, 1821. We find no mention of him
previous to March 1 , 1799 ; on which day he greatly distin-
guished himself as first Lieutenant of the Sybille frigate, in
an action with la Forte of 52 guns, the command of which
ship was afterwards conferred upon him by Vice-Adniiral
Rainier *. His post commission bears date Jan. 27, 1800.

* The Sybille, commanded by Captain Edward Cooke, whilst at Madras,
received intelligence that la Forte was cruising in the bay of Bengal, and
capturing with impunity every vessel that cauie in her way. The Sybille,
though of much inferior force, immediately proceeded in search of the
enemy ; had the good fortune to meet her in Balasore roads about mid-
night on the 28th Feb. ; soon after brought her to close action ; and in less
than two hours compelled her to surrender.

The late Captain James Kingston Tuckey, who fell a victim to the

246 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

La Forte was wrecked in the Red Sea about June 1801;
but fortunately her crew were saved. Captain Hardyman

climate of Africa, whilst employed in exploring the river Congo, in Sept.
1816, was a volunteer on board the Sybille ; and in a letter which he wrote
on the occasion of la Forte's capture, stated the force of the combatants,
and their respective loss, as follows : British 44 guns, and 3/0 men ;
French 52 guns, and 420 men. The Sybille 5 killed and 17 wounded ; la
Forte 81 killed and 93 wounded. Lieutenant Hardyman, who succeeded
to the command in consequence of his gallant commander being dangerously
wounded, says, " The scene which presented itself on la Forte's deck was
shocking ; the number she had killed cannot be accurately ascertained, as
many had been thrown overboard during the action ; but from every cal-
culation I have been able to make, the number killed must be from 150
to 160 men, and 70 wounded ; the first and second Captain, the first
Lieutenant, with several other officers, are among the number killed. The
Sybille had only 3 men killed and 19 wounded, 2 of whom afterwards
died." ., bru; V.UH

The Sybille's complement having been much reduced by deaths, and
debilitated by severe illness contracted at Calcutta in the preceding year, a
company of the Scotch brigade had been embarked by order of the Gover-
nor-General ; a party of men belonging to the Fox frigate also joined her
as volunteers at Madras, and, together with some military officers passen-
gers, probably made up the number said by Captain Tuckey to have been
in the action ; but it should be remembered, that most of her old and va-
luable crew were in a weak state of convalescence. The prisoners landed
at Calcutta were 340 in number, from which we conclude Captain Tuckey
did not assign the French ship a weaker crew than she actually had on
board at the commencement of the battle. Schornberg, whose errors are
very numerous, gives her 700 men. The Sybille had long eighteens on
her main-deck ; la Forte mounted 24-pounders. Captain Cooke lingered
under the painful effects of his wound till the 23d May, when he expired
at Calcutta, beloved and respected by all who knew him. The following
garrison-orders were given out by the Deputy-Governor, previous to the
funeral, in which is a just panegyric to his character:

" Captain Cooke, of his Majesty's ship the Sybille, after a painful and
lingering illness, in the course of which the ardent hopes of the settlement
were sanguinely fixed on his recovery, having expired this morning, in con-
sequence of the wound he received in the action with the Freni-h national
frigate la Forte ; it is the painful duty of the Deputy-Governor to order
the last tribute of military honors to be paid to the remains of that gallant
officer, by whose premature death in the defence of the interests of the
British nation in general, aud of the East India Company in particular, our
gracious Sovereign has lost a zealous, brave, and active officer, whose in-
trepid and skilful conduct in a contest with a vessel of far superior force,
has added another glorious triumph to the many obtained this war by the

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 247

subsequently commanded the Unicorn frigate, on the West
India station, and at the reduction of Monte Video, by Rear-
Admiral Stirling, and Brigadier-General Auchmuty. He
also assisted at the destruction of a French squadron in Aix
Roads, April 11, 1809. His next appointment was to the
Armicle of 38 guns, employed cruising off the French coast.

On the 4th May, 1801, Captain Hardyman sent .the boats
of that ship, assisted by those of the Cadmus, Daring, and
Monkey, to attack a number of the enemy's armed and coast-
ing vessels, at the isle of Rhe ; thirteen of which were des-
troyed under a heavy fire from the batteries, and four others
driven on shore *,

Captain Hardyman was nominated a C. B. in 1815. He
married, Dec. 29, 1810, Charlotte, youngest daughter of the
late John Travers, Esq., of Bedford Place, London*

Agent.— Sir F. M, Ommanney, M. P» . .
.eld i>rjs .litKti. ..... _ -

CHRISTOPHER LAROGHE, ESQ.
POST commission dated Jan. 29, 1800.

Agent.-— Thomas Stilwell, Esq.
«_• 7-1

JOSHUA SYDNEY HORTON, ESQ.

THIS officer entered the naval service about 1781; was first

valour of the British navy, of which, had Providence spared his life, he
would have, become one of the brightest ornaments. : ;ii qe> <t03 ifootu

" His Majesty's /6th regiment will form the funeral party, and attend
the remains of Captain Cooke, with every mark of solemnity and. respect
that is in their power to shew, from the house of Mr. Mnir, at Chouringhee,
to the place of interment, at six o'clock this evening ; and as there is no
officer of the rank of Colonel with that corps, Colonel Greene is directed
to parade with it on this occasion.

" During the procession, miuute guns are to be fired from Fort William,
and the colours to be hoisted half staff high."

Captain Cooke was the officer who undertook the hazardous negociatiou
between Lord Hood and the Magistrates of Toulon, previous to the allied
(brces taking possession of that place in 1793. An account of his pro-
ceedings in the neighbourhood of Manilla one year previous to his death,
will be found in our first volume, at p. 584, et seq. A monument to his
memory was subsequently erected at Calcutta, by order of the Honorable
Court of Directors.

* See Captain SAMUEL ROBERTS.

248 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Lieutenant of the Lowestoffe frigate, at the capture of la
Minerve, June 24, 1795 * ; and subsequently command-
ed the Fairy of 18 guns, in which vessel he sunk a French
lugger off Boulogne, Oct. 5, 1797 ; and captured a Span-
ish privateer of 8 guns and 55 men, in the Channel, Jan. 11,
1799.

On the 4th February 1800, the Seaflower, a small brig of
war, commanded by a Lieutenant, was chased into St. Au-
byn's bay, Jersey, by la Pallas, a French frigate of 46 guns
and 380 men. Captain Horton was then dining with Captain
d'Auvergne, Prince of Bouillon, the senior officer on that
station ; and, with Captain Henry Bazely, of the Harpy, a
brig mounting sixteen 32-pr. carronades and two long sixes,
immediately volunteered to go out and fight the enemy. Their
handsome offer being accepted by the Prince, those officers
weighed at 6 A. M. on the following day, and before
noon discovered the object of their pursuit near St. Maloes,
but so close in shore as to preclude the possibility of bringing
her to action without having recourse to stratagem. They
therefore tacked for the purpose of decoying her out from
under the land ; a mano3uvre which had the desired effect,
as the enemy soon after made sail in chase of them. At one
P. M., la Pallas having arrived within pistol-shot of the
British sloops, a warm action commenced, and continued
till a quarter before three, when she hauled off and made all
sail from them. The Fairy and Harpy were by this time
much cut up in their rigging, which was no sooner repaired
than they crowded sail after her. At four o'clock, a British
squadron, consisting of the Loire frigate, Danae, a 20-gun
ship, and Railleur sloop of war, hove in sight from the
Fairy's mast head ; about 11" 30', Captain Newman of the
Loire, succeeded in bringing the enemy to action, in which
he was afterwards joined by the Railleur, Harpy, and Fairy ;
and la Pallas being thus surrounded, was at length compelled
to surrender, after a gallant defence of three hours. The loss
sustained by the Fairy in those actions, amounted to 4 men
killed and 9, including her commander, wounded. The total
loss on the part of the British, who were for some time ex-

" See p. 86.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

posed to the fire of a battery on one of the Seven Islands,
was 10 slain and 36 wounded.

Captain Newman, in his official letter to the Admiralty
respecting this capture, acknowledged himself indebted to
Captains Horton and Bazely, for the exertions they used to
come up with la Pallas, but took no notice of their having
shared in the night action ; and since his unfortunate death *,
an officer of the Loire has even gone so far as to deny their
having done so; although it is a notorious fact, that the
Harpy in particular, was of great assistance in subduing the
enemy's ship, by laying on her quarter, and during the last
fifteen minutes of the combat, pouring in a most destructive
fire from her heavy carronades* The Fairy, we believe,
owing to her dull sailing, was not able to do more than ex-
change a few broadsides with la Pallas, when passing on op-
posite tacks f. Captain Horton's spirited conduct, however,
first, in volunteering to seek an encounter with a ship of
such superior force to the small vessels under his command ;
secondly, in attacking la Pallas, and lastly, in renewing the
chase for the purpose of bringing her again to action, added
to the skill with which he directed the manoeuvres of the
Fairy and Harpy, in order to cut the enemy off from the land,
sufficiently established his character as a zealous, brave, and
skilful officer, and fully entitled him to the promotion which
he soon after obtained. His post commission bears date
Feb. 18, 1800 J. .-> _

* Captain Newman perished in the Hero 74> with all his crew, during
the disastrous winter of 1811.

t The Fairy was a ship-sloop, and mounted sixteen long 6's on her
main-deck, and two carronades, 24-pounders, on the quarter-deck.

t Captain Newman's silence is thus accounted for by a gentleman who
enjoyed his friendship (in a note to the author) : " With regard to the little
controversy carried o» respecting the share of the Fairy and Harpy in ac-
tion with the Pallas, and the complaint, that Captain Newman of the
Loire, did not mention it in his despatches, I can state most clearly and
positively, from Captain Newman's own relation to me, that his only rea-
son for not speaking of that event was, that he saw nothing of it, and
could know nothing of it, but from Captains Horton and Bazely : the for-
mer of whom, on coming on board of the Loire after the action, instead of
requesting Captain Newman to detail the occurrence for him, expressly
said that he should forward his own statement : in consequence of which,

250 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

The following is a copy of the Prince of Bouillon's letter
to the Admiralty, enclosing Captain Horton's report of his
proceedings up to nine P. M. on the 5th Feb., at which hour
he hailed the Loire, and pointed out the enemy, then about
one and a half gun-shot distant :

" H. M. S. Bravo, Jersey, Feb. 14, 1 800.

" Sir. — I have a very lively satisfaction in transmitting1, for their Lord-
ships' information, Captain Horton's report to me, of the address with
which he enticed the republican frigate la Pallas from the protection of her
own shore, and the gallantry with which he and Captain Bazely, in the
Harpy, and their officers and crews, sustained and persevered in the un-
equal contest with so superior a force. The distinguished conduct of those
officers needs no comment from me to be acceptable to their Lordships ;
but it is a duty that I fill with pleasure, to state, that they sailed from
here well informed of the weight and force of the frigate, and apprised of
her destination, with the sanguine hopes of meeting her, and the firm reso-
lution of exerting their 'utmost to produce the fortunate result that,. I un-
derstand, succeeded, in that fine new frigate having been conducted to an
English port. I have the honor to be, &c. &c.

(Signed) . " P. IVAUVERGNE, Prince of Botiifon."
11 To Evan Nepean, Esq."

Captain Horton commanded several ships during the late
war; but does not appear to hare had any opportunity af-
forded him of adding to his well-earned reputation. He mar-
ried, in Jan. 1808, the widow of Henry Worwood, of Head-
ington House, co. Oxford, Esq.

Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

HENRY BAZELY, ESQ.

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Sardinian Military Order of St. Mau-
rice, and St. Lazarus.

THIS officer is a son of the late Admiral John Bazely, and
a brother of the present Rear- Admiral of that name *. He
was horn at Dover Oct. 4, 1/68 ; served upwards of ten years
as a Midshipman, the last five under H. R. H. Prince Wil-

Captain Newman naturally said, ' Very well, then do so ; and I can have
nothing to do with it ! ' Those who knew Captain Newman's disposition,
will neter suppose that he invidiously designed to keep in the back ground
the merit of any brother officer."

• See p. 27.
.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 251

Ham Henry, now Duke of Clarence ; was made a Lieutenant
in Nov. 1/90 ; and a Commander, April 4, 1796.

In May 1797, Captain Bazely, at that time commanding
the Harpy of 18 guns, fell in with, and after a close action of
fifty minutes, compelled a French national brig of eighteen
long 9-pounders, and a lugger mounting 14 guns, to run on
shore near Dieppe ; the buildings at which place, particularly
the Custom House, were much damaged by his fire. The
Harpy, whilst performing this service, was exposed to several
batteries ; and in consequence of the wind dying away, a con-
siderable time elapsed before she could obtain a clear offing.
Captain Bazely subsequently captured two of the enemy's pri-
vateers, one mounting 4 guns, the other armed with swivels,
muskets, &c., and rowing thirty-two oars. He also re-cap-
tured two British coasting vessels.

The Harpy formed part of the squadron sent against Ostend
in May 1798 * 5 and Captain Bazely's exertions during that dis-
astrous expedition, were duly noticed by Sir Home Popham
in his official despatches to the Admiralty.

From this period we find no particular mention of Captain
Bazely till Feb. 5, 1800; on which day, in conjunction with
the subject of the preceding memoir, he acquired great repu-
tation by his gallant behaviour in action with la Pallas j during
which the Harpy was for some time on board the French
frigate, her bower anchor having hooked the enemy's fore-
rigging. At the close of the contest,»Captain Bazely received
a severe contusion in his side, occasioned by the recoil of a
gun, the breeching of which had given way.

After repairing the damages sustained by his brig, Captain
Bazely succeeded in getting between la Pallas and the French
coast; thereby preventing her from escaping into St. Maloes,
and obliging her to close with the British squadron, which
had just hove in sight to leeward.

Having already alluded to an erroneous statement in the
Naval Chronicle, said to have been written by an officer of
the Loire, we shall content ourselves with observing in this
place, that the surrender of la Pallas was announced to the
Harpy by an exclamation which neither of her consorts were

-,- :;,l >on i-!y.' .

* See Vol. I, note at p. 713, ft seq.

•

252 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

near enough to hear, " Ne tirez pas encore. Messieurs, nous
sommes a vous ;'* and that when Captain Bazely paid his res-
pects to Captain Newman on board the Loire, that officer
expressed himself much indebted to the Fairy and Harpy for
driving the enemy down to him *.

Captain Bazely's next appointment was to the Antelope of
50 guns ; in which ship he continued during the absence of
Sir W. Sidney Smith, from May till Nov. 1804. In Aug.
1805, he obtained the permament command of that vessel,
and shortly after hoisted the broad pendant of Commodore
Smith, off Boulogne. From December following till Nov.
1807, the Antelope was employed as a private ship, cruising
off the Texel, escorting the East India trade to and from St.
Helena, and conveying the Earl of Caledon and his suite to
the Cape of Good Hope.

At the latter date, Captain Bazely's health had become
so much impaired in consequence of the injury he sustained
in the action with la Pallas, as to render it necessary for him
to resign the Antelope. He therefore came on shore, and
during the ensuing three years, regulated the Impress ser-
vice between Margate and Folkestone. On the 9th May 1814,
he was appointed to the Bombay 74 ; in which ship, after
bringing the British garrison from Madeira to England, and
for some time carrying on the port duty in the Downs, we
find him cruising off the Western Islands in the spring of
1815. He subsequently accompanied Lord Exmouth to the
Mediterranean ; and in August following, conveyed the Queen
of Sardinia and three Princesses, with their attendants, from
Cagliari to Genoa. For this service her Majesty presented

. * The ambiguous terms in which Captain Newman's letter to the Ad-
miralty was penned, operated very much against the interests of Captain
Bazely ; but at length, through the praise-worthy exertions of Captain
Horton, who laid a copy of the Fairy's log before the Admiralty, and
amply stated what bis superior had omitted, Earl Spencer became fully
satisfied that the Harpy's commander had, by his meritorious exertions,
entitled himself to promotion, and accordingly signed a commission, ad-
vancing him to the rank of Post-Captain, April 8, 1800. We may here
be permitted to add, that the French Captain was conveyed to the Loire
by Lieutenant Watson of the Harpy — a convincing proof, if one were
wanting, that " the little black brig " could not have been at too great a
distance from la Pallas, to assist in subduing her.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 253

him with a gold snuff box, having the initials M. T. set in
diamonds on the lid.

At the commencement of 1816, the flag of Sir Charles V.
Penrose was hoisted on board the Bombay ; and Captain
Bazely afterwards proceeded with the squadron under Lord
Exmouth to Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers, for the purpose of
obtaining the liberation of those Europeans who were then
in the power of the Barbary States. His Lordship, on this
occasion, succeeded in releasing 1/92 persons from their
chains.

Previous to Captain Bazely 's return from the Mediterranean,
he received the Grand Cross of the order of St. Maurice, and
St. Lazarus ; and was presented with a miniature of the King
and Queen of Sardinia. The Bombay was paid off at Ports-
mouth in July 1816.

Captain Bazely married^ first, in 1/96, Miss Stringer of
Canterbury, Kent ; second, Miss Ruddle, of Queen's Square,
Bloomsbury, London. He has six children living.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son,

_ _
•1 s»rfl m ymffto

EDWARD BRACE, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the B<tth ; and
a Knight of the Royal Orders of Charles HI. of Spain ; St. Maurice
and St. Lazarus, of Sardinia ; and Wilhelm of the Netherlands.

THIS officer is a son of Francis Brace, of Stagbatch, co.
Hereford, Esq. He entered the navy when extremely young,
about the year 1781 ; and after visiting the West Indies,
where he served under Captains Macbride and Pakenham,
proceeded with Commodore Cornwallis, in the Crown of 64
guns, to the East India station ; from whence he returned as
a Lieutenant of the Ariel sloop, in the autumn of 1792, after
an absence of nearly four years.

On the 13th May, 1793, the Iris, a 32-gun frigate, to which
Mr. Brace had previously been appointed, fell in with, and en-
gaged a French ship of superior force ; but owing to the loss
of her fore and mizen-lower-masts, and main-top-mast, had
the mortification to see the enemy escape. The Iris on this
occasion had 5 men killed and about 30 wounded.

254 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Mr. Brace subsequently removed with Captain Lumsdaine
into the Polyphemus 64 ; and was first Lieutenant of that
ship at the capture of la Tortue of 44 guns, having on board
a considerable number of troops, Jan. 5, 1J97* In the en-
suing summer we find him commanding the Kangaroo of 18
guns on the Irish station; where he rendered essential ser-
vice to the country, by beating out of Cork harbour during a
heavy gale of wind, and conveying information to the different
cruisers on the coast, of M. Bompard's approach with a for-
midable French squadron, which was consequently encoun-
tered and defeated by Sir John Borlase Warren, on the 12th
Oct. 1798 *.

We have already shewn in what manner seven of M. Bom-
pard's ships were disposed off ; and alluded to the drubbing
which one of them received from an English frigate of far
inferior force, previous to her capture : but having omitted
to notice the zeal and gallantry displayed by Captain Brace
on that occasion, we gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity
to do so, taking Captain Newman's official letter as our
guide.

At eight A. M. on the 15th Oct. that officer, in the Mer-
maid, mounting twenty- six long 12-pounders, six long 6's,
and eight 24-pr. carronades, with a complement of 208 men,
being on his way towards Black Cod Bay, in company with the
Revohitionnaire frigate, and Kangaroo, brig, fell in with and
pursued two of Bompard's squadron, retreating from the
scene of their late disaster. Having gained considerably on
the fugitives before sun-set, Captain Newman was in hopes
of bringing them to action that night, and made the signal to
prepare accordingly. At the commencement of the chase,
the Frenchmen kept their wind ; but towards the evening,
were right before it with all sail set. They then spoke and
hauled from each other, which necessarily separated the Bri-
tish frigates, Captain Twysden in the Revolutionnaire, and
Captain Newman, each pursuing one ; the latter officer was

• See Vol. I. p. 171.

f See Vol. I. pp. 171, 452, 493, and 535. The other two frigates, a
schooner, and a brig, effected their escape. Napper Tandy, a celebrated
Irish rebel, was supposed to have bf en on board the latter vessel.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 255

followed, though at a great distance astern, by his friend
Captain Brace.

The weather being very thick and squally, Captain New-
man lost sight of the Revolutionnaire at 7 P. M., and shortly
after of his chase. He then hauled to the wind, and was
soon joined by the Kangaroo. On the following morning, he
again fell in with one of the enemy's ships, and lost no time in
making sail after her. " At 3 P. M. the KANGAROO came
up withy and engaged the enemy, in a most gallant manner ;
but unfortunately her fore-top-mast ivas shot away by the
enemy's stern-chasers, and Captain Brace was rendered in-
capable of pursuit *." Captain Newman continued the
chase during the night ; and at day-light on the 17th, per-
ceived the Frenchman preparing to give him battle, as no other
vessel was in sight. Despising his superiority both in guns
and men, the British commander ran alongside, and com-
menced a warm action, which lasted from & 45' till 9h 30
A. M. ; when the Mermaid, having lost her mizen-mast and
main-top-mast, and being in other respects so much da*
magedas to be a mere wreck, was compelled to haul off, and
her opponent thus obtained a few hours' respite from her des-
tined fate f.

The Anson, a cut down 64, mounting 46 guns, and com-
manded by Cnptain Philip Charles1 Durham, having lost her
mizen-mast, and main-lower and top-sail-yards, during the
chase of M. Bompard's squadron, and received very consi-
derable damage in her other masts, yards, sails, and rigging,
whilst engaged with five of the French frigates on the 12th
Oct., had parted from her consorts during a gale of wind ;
and in this situation, with 15 of her officers and men wounded,
4 of the latter mortally, and her complement still further re-
duced by the absence of others in a re-captured vessel |, on
the morning of the 18th she discovered a large frigate to

* See Captain. Newman's letter to Vice-Admiral Kiugsmill, in the Nav.
Chron. vol. Hi. p., 43.

f For a memoir of Captain Newman, see Nav. Chron. vol. xxx. p. 361,
et seq. At pp. 369 and 370, will be found a full account of his action with
la Loire, and the very distressed state in which his little frigate reached
Lough Swilly.

1 See Nav. Chron. vol. iii. note f at p. 396.

256 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800*

leeward, without her fore and main-top-masts. This was
the ship that had escaped from the Mermaid and Kangaroo,
and one of those which the Anson had engaged on the 12th.

On the preceding night (17th), the Anson and Kangaroo
joined company ; and Captain Durham, thinking the latter' s
services might be useful in the Anson 's disabled state, or-
dered Captain Brace to remain with him. The Kangaroo,
since her late disaster had, with creditable alacrity, replaced
her fore-top-mast ; and, as soon as her old antagonist was dis-
covered, got up her top-gallant-masts, and made sail in
chase.

The Anson, being far to leeward of the Kangaroo, was, of
course, first up with the enemy ; and, at about 10h 30' A. M.,
a spirited action took place between the two ships. At
llh 45', the Kangaroo came up under a press of sail, and re-
ceived a shot from the Frenchman, accompanied by several
vollies of musketry. To this salute, Captain Brace imme-
diately replied by a broadside ; and shortly after, the enemy's
rnizen-mast fell. Already reduced to a defenceless state by
the Anson's powerful fire, she then surrendered, and was
taken possession of by a boat from the Kangaroo.

The prize proved to be la Loire, of twenty-eight long 18-
pounders, twelve long French 8's, and six brass 24-pr. car-
ronades. At the commencement of her first action (on the
12th), she had on board 664 men, including troops ; 48 of
whom were killed and 75 wounded, between that day and her
capture. The Anson, in this last affair, had 2 men killed and
14 wounded. The Kangaroo, whose force was sixteen 32-
pr. carronades and two long 6's, with a complement of 120
men, escaped without any loss. Captain Brace took la
Loire in tow, and proceeded with her to Plymouth.

In Feb. 1800, the Kangaroo captured le Telegraph, French
brig privateer, of 14 guns and 78 men j and re-captured an
American ship and two British merchantmen. On the 25th
of the same month, she fell in with le Grand Decide, a pri-
vateer, carrying eighteen brass 12-pounders and 150 men ;
the action which ensued, was fought in good style at close
quarters, and lasted upwards of fifty minutes, when the enemy
hauled off; and, although every exertion was made by Cap-
tain Brace to renew the engagement, succeeded in effecting

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 257

her escape. The Kangaroo at this time had 44 officers and
men absent in prizes, 6 unable to attend their quarters, and 4
employed below guarding her numerous prisoners ; of the
remainder, only 6 men were wounded.

Captain Brace was advanced to post-rank, April 22, 1800 ;
and in the following year, commanded the Neptune, a second
rate, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Gambier, with whom
he afterwards served in the Isis of 50 guns, on the Newfound-
land station. His next appointment was in 1803, to be Flag-
Captain to his old commander and friend, the late Hon. Sir
William Cornwallis, in the Dreadnought of 98 guns, on Chan-
nel service. We subsequently find him commanding in suc-
cession the Camilla, a 20-gun ship ; the Castor and Iris fri-
gates, rated at 32 guns ; and la Virginie, mounting 46 guns,
with a complement of 281 men *.

La Virginie was employed on the Irish station about four
years and a half; during which period Captain Brace cap-
tured the Guelderland, a Dutch frigate of 36 guns and 280
men, including 23 passengers ; and two Spanish privateers,
each mounting 14 guns. He also re-captured three British
West Indiamen, and several other merchant vessels.

The Guelderland was taken on the western coast of Ireland,
May 19, 1808, after a gallant defence of an hour and a half,
in a night action, during which she had all her masts shot
away by the board, 25 men killed, and 40 severely wounded.
La Virginie had only 1 man killed and 2 wounded. Vice-
Admiral Whitshed, when transmitting Captain Brace's report
of the action to the Secretary of the Admiralty, expressed
himself as follows :

" The gallantry and officer-like manner iu which this service has been
performed, is as strongly exemplified in the modest terms in which it is
related, as by the result ; and affords an additional proof amongst many, of
what may be effected by that order and discipline which I have observed
to be so well maintained on board la Virginie."

La Virginie was paid off in March 1810; and Captain
Brace remained without any other appointment till about
October following, when he was appointed to the St. Alban's
of 64 guns. In that ship he was employed on the Cadiz sta-

* The Castor was stationed as a temporary guard-ship at Liverpool ;
the other three were employed as cruisers.

VOL. II. S

258 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

tion, under Sir Richard G. Keats, who entrusted him with the
command of a squadron sent to convey Lieutenant- General
Graham (now Lord Lynedoch) and his troops to Tariffa,
for the purpose of co-operating with the Spanish General La
Penas, in an attack upon the rear of the French besieging army.

It being found impracticable to effect a landing any where
between Cape Trafalgar and Tariffa, Captain Brace proceeded
to Algeziras, where the troops were disembarked under his
personal superintendence. From thence the Lieutenant-Ge-
neral immediately marched for Tariffa, to which place the
artillery, provisions, stores, &c. of his little army were con-
veyed in boats, notwithstanding the unfavorable state of the
weather, by the indefatigable exertions of the navy. The
famous battle of Barrossa followed ; and the assistance afforded
by Captain Brace to the combined armies, was most hand-
somely mentioned in the naval and military despatches res-
pecting that truly glorious event *.

Towards the latter end of 1811, Captain Brace removed
into the Berwick of 74 guns, which ship he commanded on
the Mediterranean station during the remainder of the war.

A gallant exploit was performed May 16, 1813, by a de-
tachment from the Berwick and Euryalus, under the direction
of Mr. Henry Johnston Sweedland, first Lieutenant of the
former ship. Upwards of twenty vessels collected in Cavu-
larie bay, to the eastward of Toulon, under the protection
of several land batteries, and la Fortune, a French national
xebec mounting ten long 9-pounders and 4 swivels, with a
complement of 95 men, were either brought out or destroyed,
and the batteries taken in a period of time astonishingly short,
the assailants sustaining no greater loss than 1 marine killed,
and an ordinary seaman missing. The attack was ably
planned ; and Lieutenant Sweedland carried it into execution
with that calm intrepidity which, while it leaves an enemy
nothing to hope from protracted resistance, foresees and pro-
vides all that is requisite to ensure success.

* The British and Spanish armies formed a junction at Tariffa, Feb. 28,
18 11, and five days afterwards obtained a most brilliant victory over two
divisions of Marshal Victor's army. The loss of the French, who left be-
hind them two generals, an eagle, and six pieces of cannon, was computed
at 3,000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners : on the side of the allies, the
loss was stated at 1,243 in slain and wounded.

POST- CAPTA INS OF 1800.

In December following, the boats of the Berwick made anight
attack on Fort Negaye, near Frejus, for the purpose of cap-
turing a number of merchantmen lying under its protection.
Lieutenant Sweedland, who likewise commanded upon this oc-
casion, nothing daunted by the unexpected appearance of two
French national schooners in the bay, gallantly pushed on,
carried one of the latter and the fort, and obliged the enemy
to scuttle the coasting vessels. The second schooner, how-
ever, found means to repel the divided force which assailed
her, and Lieutenant Sweedland, Mr. James B. Hawkins
Whitshed, Midshipman, and several seamen were killed, be-
sides others wounded. The sailors in the fort now turned
some field-pieces on this vessel, and damaged her so much,
that she was finally scuttled by the enemy *.

Captain Brace's services during the operations which led
to the surrender of Genoa and its dependencies in April 1814,
were duly acknowledged by Sir Josias Rowley, who conv
manded the squadron employed on that occasion, in conjunc-
tion with the British army under Lord William Bentinck.
After the reduction of that fortress, he acted as naval Com-
missioner on shore, until the arsenal was finally cleared of its
valuable contents. He then returned to England, refitted
his ship, and was again ordered to the Mediterranean. Dur-
ing the war with Murat, occasioned by that chieftain's se-
cession from the cause of the allied powers, the Berwick was
employed under the orders of Captain (now Rear-Admiral)
Fahie, at the siege of Gaeta f ; on which service Captain
Brace was the second in command.

On his arrival in England, about June or July 1816, all
warfare between the European powers being at an end, and his

* Lieutenant Sweedland was the eldest son of Sir C. Sweedland, of St.
Helen's Place, London ; and it may with truth be said, that, by his pre-
mature death, the navy lost one of its ornaments, his country a real pa-
triot, his King a most loyal subject, and his disconsolate family a source
of joy. Mr. Whitshed was the eldest son of the present Admiral of that
name ; he served under Lieutenant Sweedland in the affair at Cavalarie,
and by his conduct as a youth, he gave high promise of possessing those
virtues so eminently conspicuous in the officer whose fate he shared. His
last words were, " Carry her if you can -. I am no more."
t See Vol. I. p. 718.
s 2

260 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

health much impaired by long and anxious services, Captain
Brace was recommended to seek benefit from retirement, and
the pleasures of social and family intercourse at home. The
dispute with the Dey of Algiers, however, occurring about
this time, he was induced to comply with the express wishes
of Viscount. Melville and Lord Exmouth; and without any
interval of repose, assumed the command of the Impregnable,
a 3-decker, which was to form one of the squadron appointed
to visit that piratical tyrant, under the orders of the last
named nobleman. When the ships arrived at Gibraltar,
Rear-Admiral Milne, who had been appointed to the com-
mand at Halifax, but allowed, at his own particular request,
to accompany the expedition, hoisted his flag on board the
Impregnable, as second in command of the squadron.

During the tremendous battle of Aug. 27th, the Impreg-
nable was hulled by two hundred and thirty-three shot, none
less than a 24-pounder, about twenty of which passed between
wind and water. She however not only maintained her pe-
rilous situation about three hundred and fifty yards from a
fortification of three tiers, containing 66 guns, flanked by
four other works of two tiers each, in which were mounted
60 pieces of cannon, and a redoubt of 4 guns, but succeeded,
with the aid of an explosion vessel, in destroying the strong-
est of all the Algerines' batteries. She expended no less than
6,730 round shot, and 28,800 pounds of powder. Her killed
and wounded amounted to rather more than one-fourth part
of the total loss sustained by Lord Exmouth's fleet * ; and
her masts, yards, sails, and rigging, were much cut up.
Captain Brace himself, was slightly wounded in two places ;
but as he did not allow his name to be included in the re-
port, we suppose it was not his wish to make a longer list
than he could possibly avoid, of the casualties on board his
ship. The names of Rear-Admiral Milne, and one or two
other officers who received wounds, were probably withheld,
through the same motive. Such acts of modesty are truly
praiseworthy, and should always be recorded.

After the battle, Rear- Admiral Milne removed into his
proper flag-ship, the Leander of 60 guns, and proceeded wkh

« See Vol. I. pp. 227 and 682.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800. 261

tile commander-in-chief 's despatches to England ; but owing
to adverse winds, the duplicates brought overland by Captain
James Brisbane, of the Queen Charlotte, were received at
the Admiralty several days before the Rear- Admiral arrived
in England.

Captain Brace having been nominated a Companion of the
Bath in 1815, could not, consistently with the regulations of
that Order, receive any personal mark of distinction from his
own government, for this most hazardous but brilliant ser-
vice : it having some time previously been determined, not
to confer the insignia of a Knight Commander on any other
than Flag-Officers in the navy, and General Officers in the
army. He however received the Orders of Wilhelm of the
Netherlands, and St. Maurice and St. Lazarus of Sardinia, for
the skill and valour he had displayed at Algiers ; and that of
Charles III. of Spain, for his services at Cadiz in 1811.

On the 1st Aug. 1821, Captain Brace was appointed to the
Ramillies 74, stationed at Portsmouth ; and on the 31st May,
1823, to the Ganges of 84 guns ; in which ship he is now
absent on foreign service, with the Superb JS under his
orders.

It will thus appear that, during the long period of 43 years,
this officer has been in almost constant employ, on various
stations and services ; his intervals of living on shore out of
commission, being very few and very short.

One of Captain Brace's sisters married the late Captain
Newman, of whom we have spoken in the course of this
memoir; another is the lady of Rear- Admiral Poyntz. Two
of his nephews are also in the navy, viz. Herbert Brace
Powell, Esq., a Post- Captain, and Francis Brace, Esq., a
Commander. The names and services of those officers will
appear in their proper places.

Agents. — Messrs. Atkins and Son.

SIR JAHLEEL BRENTON, BART.

Knight Commander of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath :
and a Knight Grand Cross of the Neapolitan Order of St. Ferdinand
and of Merit.

THIS officer is a son of the late Rear- Admiral Jahleel Bren-

262 FOST-CAPFAINS OF 1800.

ton, by Henrietta, daughter of Joseph Cowley, Esq., of Wol-
verhampton, in Staffordshire (by Penelope, daughter and
heiress of Edward Pelham, Esq.).

He was born Aug. 22, 1770; received his education at the
maritime school at Chelsea ; and obtained the rank of Lieu-
tenant in 1790*. At the commencement of the French revo-
lutionary war, we find him commanding the Trepassey of 12
guns, on the Newfoundland station ; and subsequently serv-
ing as a Lieutenant of the Barfleur, a second rate, bearing
the flag of Vice- Admiral Waldegrave (now Lord Radstock),
in which ship he assisted at the defeat of the Spanish fleet,
under Don Josef de Cordova, off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14,

1797 f.

Towards the close of 1798, or early in 1799, Lieutenant
Brenton was promoted to the command of the Speedy, a brig
mounting fourteen 4-pounders, with a complement of 60 men*
On the 9th Aug. in the latter year, he chased three of the
enemy's armed vessels into a small bay, near Cape de Gatt,
where they moored in a close line, within a boat's length of
the beach. The Speedy engaged them an hour and three
quarters under sail, before she could gain soundings, although
not more than a cable's length distant from the rocks j but
finding the enemy had much the advantage, from her constant
change of position, Captain Brentou determined to push for
an anchorage, and was fortunate enough to gain one within
pistol shot of the centre vessel. A warm action now took
place, and lasted about three quarters of an hour ; at the end
of which time the enemy took to their boats, leaving the ves-
sels to their fate. The prizes were taken possession of under
a heavy fire of musketry from the surrounding hills, and 2
Spaniards found dead on their decks : the wounded were
carried off by their companions. They mounted in the whole
22 guns, 6 and 9-pounders. The Defender, a privateer
belonging to Gibraltar, was in company with the Speedy at
the commencement of this very creditable affair ; but having

* Previous to this promotion, Mr. Brenton had served as a Lieutenant
in the Swedish navy, and bore a part in the desperate battle between the
Russians and Swedes, in the gulf of Wibourg. See Vol. I. note §, at p.

292' /\itK\. Its.

t See Vol. I. pp. 21 and 61.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 263

only 22 men on board, was obliged to stand out for the pur-
pose of procuring assistance from a boat she had in the of-
fing, and could not reach the anchorage till the conclusion
of the action. She had 1 man wounded, the Speedy 2 ; but
neither of them dangerously.

On the 3d Oct. following, whilst running through the Gut
of Gibraltar, in sight of a British convoy, Captain Brenton
observed a number of small vessels coming out of Algeziras ;
and concluding they were Spanish gun-boats endeavouring to
cut off some of the merchantmen, steered for them in order
to defeat their purpose. He soon after perceived they were
coasting vessels, eight in number, under the protection of an
armed cutter and schooner. All sail was now made in
chase, and the two sternmost were soon separated from the
others, but took shelter under the guns of a castle, which
opened a heavy fire upon the Speedy as she approached,
and prevented her bringing them off. Captain Brenton
now pursued the main body, passing within gun-shot of
the castle at Tariffa ; and at length came up with and des-
troyed four of them in a bay to the eastward of Cape Trafal-
gar, without any loss on the part of the Speedy, although her
boats were exposed to the fire from a fortification under
which the enemy had sought refuge, and some musketry on the
beach ; as also to a heavy surf, which rendered their ap-
proach dangerous. Rear-Admiral Duckworth, in reporting
this affair to the Admiralty, said, " It is but justice to Cap-
tain Brenton to observe, that his exertions and gallantry at
all opportunities, do him the highest honor.''

Captain Brenton's next encounter with the enemy was on
his entering the Gut, with a transport , ship and a merchant
brig under his protection from JUsbon, Nov. 9, 1799. On
that day two Spanish schooners, each carrying .two long 24-
pounders and 50 men ; ten other vessels of one 24-pounder,
and 40 men each ; and a French xebec privateer of 8 guns,
pushed out from Algeziras, and directed their first assault
against the transport, but without effect. They then at-
tempted to get possession of the brig, in which they were
also foiled by the skill and bravery of Captain Brenton, who
passed through the midst of them, and poured in such re-
peated broadsides of round and grape, that they fled in con-

264 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800.

fusion, taking shelter under Fort Barbary. The Speedy on
this occasion had only 3 men killed and wounded ; but she
was very much cut up in her hull, masts, and rigging. The
Spaniards, according to their own account, lost 1 1 men.

To Captain Brenton, it appeared very singular that, al-
though this brush with the enemy's flotilla took place close
to the rock, a single shot fired from Europa point was the
only effort made by the garrison of Gibraltar to assist him.
He consequently anchored in the bay, much out of humour
with the Governor, General OHara ; but was soon informed
of the cause by his Excellency, who addressed him on his
appearing at the convent *, in the following terms :

" I conclude, Sir, you think I have treated you very ill, in not affording
you assistance ; but I have made arrangements with the Governor of Al-
geziras, to prevent this town being kept in a state of constant alarm and
annoyance by the Spanish gun-boats, which in consequence are never to
be fired on from the rock : there is the copy of a letter which I have written
to the Admiralty, and I most sincerely wish you may obtain your pro-
motion f."

The letter alluded to was so handsomely worded, that
Captain Brenton could say nothing about the preceding trans-
action j and he was soon after rewarded for his gallantry by a
post commission, appointing him to the command of the
Caesar ; in which ship, bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Sir
James Saumarez, the inhabitants of Algeziras again witnessed
his exertions, on that memorable day, July 6, 1801, when
our intrepid tars were unhappily thwarted by calms and cur-
rents in their attempt to cut off a French squadron, and
obliged to haul off from the formidable batteries under which
they had drifted, with the additional mortification of leaving
the enemy to exult in the capture of a British 74 |.

Nothing daunted by this failure, Sir James Saumarez, with
astonishing celerity, refitted part of his shattered squadron;
and, reinforced by Captains Keats and Hollis, of the Superb
and Thames, pursued his vain-glorious enemy ; who, notwith-
standing their immense superiority, sought for safety in an

• The Governor's residence.

t See Naval History of Great Britain, by Captain EDWARD PELHAM
BRENTON, Vol. II. p. 490.

J See Vol. I. p- 187.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 265

ignominious flight, during which two first rates were burnt,
and a 74-gun ship borne off in triumph, by their determined
opponents *.

As the exertions that were made on board the squadron in
general, and the Caesar in particular, after the battle off Alge-
bras, have been considered the most extraordinary in the
history of naval affairs, and a lasting standard for imitation,
it may be proper to detail the damages she repaired between
the evening of the 6th and forenoon of the 12th. In that
short space of time, she shifted her main-mast, fished and
secured her fore-mast, which had been shot through in se-
veral places, knotted and spliced the rigging, plugged the
shot-holes between wind and water, completed with stores
of all kinds, and provisions for four months. Such was the
ardour manifested by her crew, that they volunteered their
services to Captain Brenton, not only to continue their exer-
tions from dawn till dark, but to work, watch and watch,
during the night. By efforts such as these, the Caesar was
enabled to commence warping out of Gibraltar Mole at noon
onthe 12th, swaying up her top-gallant-masts, and bending
sails at the same time ; and by 3 P. M ., she was actually
under sail, and ready to pursue the enemy, who were then
turning out of the bay. It is also worthy of remark, that
several of her wounded men, on hearing the ship was moving
out of the Mole, escaped from the hospital, determined, if
possible, to share in the new danger that awaited them.
They were accordingly received on board, and went to their
quarters. Sir James Saumarez, in his official despatches,
makes ample mention of Captain Brenton's able and zealous
exertions on this trying and memorable occasion f.

* See Vol. I. p. 344.

f In the action of the 6th July, the Caesar had 9 men killed, 25 wounded,
and 8 missing. The latter are supposed to have been taken prisoners when
assisting the Hannibal. " When, in the hottest part of the action, the
Caesar broke her sheer, and could not get her guns to bear on the enemy,
Captain Brenton ordered a cutter to be lowered down from the stern, to
convey a warp to the Audacious ; but the boat was found to be knocked to
pieces by the enemy's shot. Before other means could be resorted to,
Michael Collins, a young sailor belonging to the Caesar's mizen-top, seized
the end of a lead-line, and exclaiming, ' You shall soon have a warp,' darted

266 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Captain Brenton returned to England in the Santa Do-
rothea, April 7, 1802, and was appointed to la Minerve fri-
gate in November following. On the 2d July, 1803, as the
latter ship, under the charge of a pilot, and during a fog, was
pursuing some French vessels, she unfortunately struck upon
the western point of the Cones, near Cherbourgh. Two
strong forts in the neighbourhood immediately opened their
fire upon her, and were soon assisted by a division of gun-
vessels from the road, including two heavy brigs. Every
thing that men could do, both to extricate their ship from her
perilous situation, and to employ effectively the few guns
that could be brought to bear, was done by Captain Brenton,
his officers and crew. At length, after sustaining a fire of
several hours' duration, by which la Minerve was greatly
damaged in her hull and masts, 12 men killed, and 14 or 15
badly wounded, she was obliged to strike her colours.

Captain Jurieu, of la Franchise, a French frigate, captured
by the Minotaur, Thunderer, and Albion, on the 28th May
preceding, was allowed to go to France, on his parole to
return to England in three months, if he could not obtain
the liberation of Captain Brenton. His efforts proved inef-
fectual; the consular government proposing to substitute
three individuals, two of whom were resident in France at
the renewal of the war; the other, although denominated a
Colonel, was not known to belong to the navy or army of
Great Britain. Captain Brenton therefore continued a prison-
er at Verdun till about the commencement of 1807, when he
was exchanged for M. Infernet, who had commanded 1'Intre-
pide 74, in the battle of Trafalgar. It need hardly be stated,
that on his return from captivity, Captain Brenton was not
only most honorably acquitted by a court martial, of all
blame on account of the loss of la Minerve, but most highly
praised for his gallant defence of her *.

from the taffrail, and- swam with the line to the Audacious, where it was
received, and by that means a hawser ran out, which answered the intended
purpose," See Brenton's Naval History, vol. iii. p. 36, et seq.

* A very interesting account of Captain Brenton's capture, imprison-
ment, and treatment, will be found in the third volume of his brother's
" Naval History," published since this sheet was put in the press. See
pp. 209 &c. to 234.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 267

Captain Brenton's trial took place Feb./, 1807- In the
course of the same month he was appointed to the Spartan
of 46 guns ; and on the 23d April, 1809, we find him, with
the Amphion and Mercury frigates under his orders, driving
the French garrison out of Pesaro, destroying the castle at
the entrance of that port, and capturing thirteen merchant
vessels, deeply laden with oil, hides, hemp, almonds, &c.

On the 2d of the following month, the Spartan and Mer-
cury blew up the castle of Ceseratico, destroyed a battery of
two 4-pounders, burnt a large vessel laden with iron, captured
twelve others, partly laden with grain, and brought off a great
quantity of hemp and iron, which had been collected in the
magazines. This service, as well as the preceding, was ac-
complished without the loss of a man, although at Ceseratico,
the ships and their boats were much exposed to the fire from
the battery and musketry on shore.

Eight days after this affair, Captain JBrenton, in concert with
Baron Ocharnick, commanding a detachment of Austrian
troops, compelled the garrison of the island of Lussin, on the
coast of Croatia, consisting of I/O men, to surrender at dis-
cretion, after some opposition from the citadel and batteries.
The allies on this occasion had only 3 men wounded.

Early in October following, Captain Brenton assisted at
the capture of Zante and Cephalonia, by the naval and mili-
tary forces under Captain Spranger of the Warrior, and Bri-
gadier-General Oswald. On the 9th "of the same month, he
commanded at the reduction of Cerigo, an island near the
Morea, defended by three forts, with a garrison of 104 men.
" At Cerigo," says Lord Colling wood, when reporting the
capture of those islands, " the greatest resistance was made ;
but Captain Brenton's skill and resources are such as would
surmount much greater difficulties than they could present."
Captain Spranger, in his letter to the commander-in-chief, ob-
served, that Cerigo had long been used as a place of refuge
by privateers of the worst description ; and duly acknow-
ledged the advantage he had derived from Captain Brenton's
" judgment, gallantry, and activity," during the expedition,
which terminated with the fall of that island.

On the 1st May, 1810, the Spartan and Success fell in with
and pursued a French squadron, consisting of the Ceres fri-

268 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800.

gate, of 42 guns and 350 men ; Fame corvette, 28 guns, 260
men ; Sparviere brig, 8 guns, 98 men j and Achilles cutter,
10 guns, 80 men. These vessels, favored by light and par-
tial breezes, succeeded in reaching the mole of Naples ; and
as Captain Brenton was sensible they would never leave that
place of shelter whilst menaced by two British frigates, he
directed the Success to cruise from five to ten leagues S. W.
of Capri, himself continuing in the bay.

At day- light on the 3d, he had the pleasure of seeing the
enemy's squadron, accompanied by eight Neapolitan gun-
boats, each carrying one 24-pounder and 40 men, standing
towards the Spartan in a close line. At 7h 56' A. M., he ex-
changed broadsides with the Ceres, then within pistol-shot,
and soon after, passing along their line, cut off the Achilles
and gun-boats from the main body. This obliged the enemy's
frigate, corvette, and brig, to wear for the purpose of renew-
ing their junction ; in which attempt they were foiled by the
Spartan taking her station on their weather beam. A close
and obstinate contest ensued : light and variable winds led
them near the batteries of Baia, under which the Ceres sought
protection. The crippled state of the Spartan not allowing
her to follow, she bore up, and after raking the frigate and
corvette, succeeded in cutting off and boarding the Sparviere.

The Fame having lost her fore-top-mast, effected her es-
cape with the assistance of the gun boats, by whose fire the
Spartan had been severely galled.

For a considerable time during the battle, Captain Brenton
stood upon the capstern, cheering his crew, and watching the
enemy's manoeuvres. Whilst thus employed, one of his of-
ficers requested him not to expose himself in such a manner :
his reply was, " I am in no more danger here, than I should
be any where else." Soon after a grape shot struck him
on the left hip, and shattered the ilium : the wound was
for some time considered to be mortal. Numerous were
the instances of patriotism and individual fortitude dis-
played by our heroic countrymen, during this unequal con-
flict. One of the wounded sailors, upon being told that he
must lose the whole of his arm, exclaimed, " Well, take it
whenever you like ; it is not mine, but my king's." The
Spartan's total loss on this glorious occasion, amounted to

POST CAPTAINS OF 1800. 269

10 men killed and 22 wounded ; among the latter was Mr.
Willis, her first Lieutenant, whom Captain Brenton describes
as " one of the best and most gallant officers he ever met
with." The enemy, according to a French account, had 30
killed and 90 wounded, exclusive of the loss sustained by
the captured brig ; but we have reason to believe it was much
more severe *.

Captain Brenton's distinguished conduct in the Bay of
Naples, did not pass unrewarded. The Patriotic Fund at
Lloyd's, voted him a sword, value 100 guineas ; the King
of the two Sicilies presented him with the Grand Cross of the
Order of St. Ferdinand, and of Merit ; he was raised to the
dignity of a Baronet of Great Britain, Nov. 3, 1812 ; and no-
minated a K. C. B. Jan. 2, 1815. Towards the conclusion
of the war, we find him commanding the Stirling Castle 74.
His subsequent appointments were, early in Jan. 1814, to su-
perintend the naval arsenal at Port Mahon ; about June fol-
lowing, to command the Dorset yacht ; and in the autumn of
the same year, to be Resident Commissioner at the Cape of
Good Hope. The establishment at the latter place being
reduced, he returned from thence in the Vigo, a third rate,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Lambert, and arrived at
Portsmouth Jan. 1, 1822.

Sir Jahleel Brenton is at present commander of the Royal
Charlotte yacht ; the amount of a pension granted him for
the severe wound he received off Naples, is, we believe, 300/.
per annum f. He married, first, April 10, 1802, Isabella,
daughter of Anthony Stewart, Esq., late of Maryland ; se-
cond, Oct. 9, 1822, Harriet, daughter of the late James Bren-
ton, Esq., of Halifax. His first lady died at the Cape of
Good Hope, July 29, 1817 ; and his eldest son, at Winches-
ter School, Aug. 27, in the same year.

* The Spartan had only 258 men and boys on board at the commence-
ment of the action, 19 being absent in a prize. The enemy, as we have
already shewn, mustered in the whole 1108. Captain Ayscough, who
commanded the Success, had the mortification to be becalmed outside the
islands, whilst his brother officer was adding to his well-earned fame in the
Bay of Naples.

f It was many years before Captain Brenton was pronounced out of
danger from the effects of his wound, but which is now considered to be
cured, though he will never regain the complete use of his limb.

270 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Captain Edward Pelham Brenton, R. N., is a brother of
the subject of this memoir : another brother held the rank of
Lieutenant, and was mortally wounded when commanding an
attack made by the boats of the Peterell sloop of war, upon
an enemy's armed vessel near Barcelona, in 1799.

Agents. — Messrs. Maude.

;fi.l : •' n r.OtfttlH

SIR ROBERT MENDS, KNT.

Knight of the Royal Spanish Order of Charles HI.; and late Commodore
of the Squadron employed on the African Station.

THIS officer, we have reason to believe, entered the naval
service without any thing in the shape of interest whereby to
procure advancement. He lost an arm during the American
war, previous to the completion of his 14th year, and suf-
fered amputation twice before his recovery could be hoped
for*. In 1786, we find him serving on the coast of Africa,
in the Grampus, a 50- gun ship, bearing the broad pendant of
Commodore Edward Thompson, by whom himself and four
other young gentlemen were directed to do duty as Lieute-
nants, wear a peculiar dress to distinguish them from the
other Midshipmen, and form a separate mess in a cabin al-
lotted them for that purpose.

Soon after his return to England, Mr. Mends presented a
petition on his knees to our late monarch at Windsor ; and
in consequence thereof, was most graciously recommended
by his Majesty to Earl Howe for promotion. Previous, how-
ever, to his obtaining a commission, in 1789, he served as
an Admiralty Midshipman on board the Colossus 74, where
he was allowed the sole use of a cabin in order that his si-
tuation might be more comfortable to him than it could
possibly have been in a cockpit berth.

Mr. Mends' first appointment as a Lieutenant was to the
Childers sloop of war, commanded by Captain (now Sir
Robert) Barlow, and stationed on the coast of Cornwall for
the suppression of smuggling. Whilst thus employed, he

t . * Mr. Mends, on being asked after his recovery how he felt whilst the
surgeon was performing the painful operation of removing his shattered
limb, replied, " Very well until I saw my arm lying on a table beside me
I then became sick."

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800. 271

gave repeated earnests of that zeal, activity, and spirit of
enterprise, by which he afterwards distinguished himself.

In the action off 1'Orient, June 23, 1795, Mr. Mends was a
Lieutenant of the Colossus 74, and narrowly escaped death
in consequence of applying the match to a gun which hung
fire ; on which occasion he was so dreadfully burnt by the
explosion that took place, as scarcely to have preserved any
skin on his body*.

On the 3d March 1797, our officer, then commanding the
Diligence of 16 guns, on the Jamaica station, fell in with, and
after an action of forty -five minutes, captured la Nativetas, a
Spanish ship of 500 tons, 16 guns, and 50 men. He subse-
quently assisted at the capture of a Spanish armed packet.
His post commission bears date May 2, 1800; and he con-
tinued to serve in the West Indies, commanding successively
the Abergavenny of 54 guns, Thunderer, a third rate, and
Quebec frigate, until the conclusion of the war. He arrived
at Plymouth in the Nereide of 36 guns, and was paid off in
Sept. 1802.

Early in 1805, Captain Mends was appointed to the Sea
Fencible service in Ireland ; and about Sept. 1808, to the
Arethusa frigate. On the 26th Nov. following, he captured
the General Ernouf, a French privateer of 16 guns and 58
men. In the following year, we find him co-operating with
the Spanish patriots.

On the 15th March 1809, a party of seamen and marines
belonging to the Arethusa, were landed under the command
of Lieutenant Hugh Pearson, and destroyed upwards of
twenty heavy guns, mounted on the batteries at Lequito,
defended by a detachment of French soldiers, 21 of whom
were made prisoners, the rest escaped. The British had only
3 men wounded. A small vessel, laden with brandy, was
found in the harbour and brought away.

Captain Mends having received information of two other
vessels being up the river Andero, laden with brandy for the
French army in Spain, the same party landed in the evening
of the following day, and finding them aground about four
miles up, destroyed their cargoes, and delivered the vessels

:i.i^»;i£Y fJi-.\ -.0 if.'-
* See Hants Telegraph, Jan. 19, 1824, p. 2, col. 3.

272 VOBT-CAPTAIXS OF 1800.

to their proper owners, from whom they had been forcibly
taken.

On the 20th, a party under Lieutenant Elms Steele, des-
troyed the guns at Baignio, and captured a vessel laden with
merino wool ; whilst Lieutenant Fennel of the royal marines,
accompanied by Mr. Elliott, the Purser, and a boat's crew,
ascended the mountain and destroyed the signal-posts. The
same evening, Lieutenant Pearson took possession of the
batteries of the town of Paisance without opposition, and
destroyed the guns ; the small parties of the enemy stationed
at these places, retiring as the British advanced.

On the 6th April, 1809, the Arethusa joined the Amethyst,
just as the latter had silenced the fire of a large French fri-
gate, which soon after surrendered : an account of this cap-
ture will be found in our memoir of Sir Michael Seymour,
Bart., who commanded the Amethyst on that occasion. Whilst
proceeding to attack the enemy's ship, a block struck Captain
Mends on the back of his head, knocked him down, and for
a short time deprived him of his senses. The effects of this
blow he felt and complained of during the remainder of his
life *.

Captain Mends was afterwards entrusted with the command
of a squadron stationed on the north coast of Spain. On the
24th June, 1810, after a consultation with the Junta of As-
turias, he consented to embark the Spanish Brigadier-Gene-
ral Porlier, and 500 of his soldiers, with the intention of beat-
ing up the enemy's quarters along the coasts of Canta-
bria and Biscay. The result of this expedition was the des-
truction of all the batteries (with the exception of Castro) from
St. Sebastian to St. Andero, on which were found altoge-
ther about 100 pieces of heavy cannon ; a loss to the ene-
my of more than 200 men ; and an addition of nearly 300
volunteers to Porlier's little army. Communications were
also opened with the patriots in the interior, and that part
of the sea-coast now laid entirely bare of defence ; the zealous
attachment of the inhabitants to the independence of their
country, was ascertained ; and two good anchorages for the
squadron in westerly gales were secured, until the French
could re-mount heavy cannon on the various eminences near

* See Hants Telegraph, Jan. 19, 1824.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 273

Santona and Bermeo, which necessarily occupied much time
and required great labour, the country being so extremely
mountainous, and the roads so bad, as to render carriage by
land almost impracticable ; the whole of which was happily
accomplished without the loss of a man on the part of the
British, and only 7 Spaniards wounded. The proceedings
of the seamen and marines landed from the squadron, will be
detailed in our memoir of the Hon. Captain Aylmer, who
commanded the brigade on shore.

Towards the latter end of July, Captain Mends received
the following letter from the Junta of Gallicia, dated on the
22d of that month :

" Sir. — This Junta have the satisfaction of acknowledging the receipt
of your letter of yesterday, in which you have the goodness to communi-
cate the particulars of the expedition to Cantabria, undertaken by yourself
and General Porlier, combining with his operations the activity and force
of the squadron under your command. He has also made a report to this
Junta, of the great attention you have been pleased to shew to his officers
and people ; thus giving fresh and undeniable proofs of a generous pro-
tection and support to the just cause we defend, correspondent with the
noble sentiments of your nation, and magnanimity of your Sovereign.

" The Junta of Gallicia, in the name of their government and country,
to which they shall make known your distinguished services, offer you in
return their warmest acknowledgments, and are anxiously desirous of an
opportunity of being able to give you irrefragable proofs of their gratitude,
high consideration, and of that respect which you merit.

" Notwithstanding every object of this glorious expedition which was
wished, could not at the time be accomplished* still the great advantages
of which it has been productive are very evident, by the annoyance it has
occasioned to the enemy throughout the whole of these coastSj'in opening
the port of Santona, and compelling him to withdraw from other points,
where his progress would have occasioned greater evils.

" The threatened situation in which this kingdom of Gallicia stands in
all its frontiers, does not allow the Junta, at present, completely to avaij
themselves of all the advantages which you and General Porlier have
opened, but of which more favorable circumstances will put them in full
possession. But notwithstanding the present delicate state of affairs, the
Junta had determined on sending some aid and succours to Santona, which
the success of the expedition has rendered unnecessary.

" The Junta particularly congratulate themselves on the prophetic eu-
logy which you bestow on General Porlier, and boast of having a son in
him so worthy of his country, enjoying the greatest satisfaction that his
achievements and military conduct have met with your approbation.

" The particular recommendation which you make of the Captain Oslara,
is very strong in every sense of the word ; and should he have occasion to

VOL. II. T

2/4 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

solicit any thing which this Junta have the power of bestowing, they will
not fail of giving you a further proof of the respect they bear to your re-
commendation, in attending to your wishes.

" Finally, Commodore, this Junta entreat that you would, in their
name, and in that of the whole Spanish nation, make known to the cap-
tains, officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron, the satisfaction and
obligation which is felt by -them for their great services, and the valour
with which they have accomplished a glorious and a useful enterprise ;
desiring, at the same time, to acknowledge the gratitude they feel for such
distinguished actions.

"DoN RAYMOND DE CASTRES,?,, .

(Signed) ,, > becretaries."

JOSE ANTONIO REWADENGRAA

On the 14th Oct. following, Captain Mends effected a
partial landing of troops, &c. at Gijon, when the enemy were
driven out of the town, all the stores destroyed, and the can-
non thrown into the sea. Early in the following year, he
was appointed to the command of the prison ships stationed
at Portsmouth ; where he continued till the conclusion of the
war. On the 25th May, 1815, the honor of knighthood was
conferred upon him on his obtaining permission to wear the
Cross of the Spanish Order of Charles III. In April, 1816,
the pension granted him for the loss of his arm (originally
seven pounds) was encreased to 300/. per annum.

Sir Robert Mends obtained the chief command on the
coast of Africa, in June 1821 ; and died on board the Owen
Glendower frigate at Cape Coast, Sept. 4, 1823. An attack
of cholera morbus had for the two preceding days slightly
incapacitated him from his usual active attention to his duty;
and on his partial recovery, he was proceeding from his
cabin to the quarter-deck, in conversation with his eldest son,
when he was seized with an apoplectic fit, from which he
never recovered.

This lamented officer married, Sept. 29, 1802, a daughter
of the late James Butler, Esq., of Bagshot, Surrey. His
brother, W. Bowen Mends, Esq., is a Captain, R. N.
Another brother holds a situation under government in North
America. _

FRANCIS WILLIAM AUSTEN, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
THIS officer is a son of the late Rev. George Austen, Rec-
tor of Steventon in Hampshire, by Cassandra, youngest

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800; 275

daughter of the Rev. Thomas Leigh, formerly Rector of
Harpsden, or Harden, near Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire *.
He was born at Steventon, April 23, 1774 ; and admitted
a student at the Royal Naval Academy, April 15, 1786.
Whilst there, he applied so closely to his studies, and behaved
in so exemplary a manner, as to obtain from the Lords of the
Admiralty, (to whom his good conduct had been officially re-
ported) a recommendation to the Hon. Commodore Corn-
wallis for promotion, as soon as his time should be com-
pleted, -ciijfrjskl .ti

Mr. Austen embarked as a Midshipman on board the Per-
severance frigate, about the latter end of 1788 ; and served
in that ship, the Crown 64, and Minerva of 38 guns, on the
East India station, till Dec. 28, 1792, when he was advanced
to the rank of Lieutenant. From that period we find him
serving successively in the Dispatch armed brig ; Minerva ;
Lark sloop ; Andromeda of 32 guns ; Prince George and
Glory, second rates ; Shannon, Triton, and Seahorse frigates j
and London of 98 guns; under the respective commands of
Captain John Whitby, Commodore Cornwallis, Captains
Josias Rowley, Thomas Sotheby, William Taylor, James
Bowen, Alexander Fraser, John Gore, Edward J. Foote, and
J. Child Purvis f.

* Captain Austen is descended by his father's side, from an old and res-
pectable family long settled in Kent, at present represented by Thomas
Austen, Esq., of Kippington, near Seven Oaks, late a Colonel in the army.
His mother was a descendant from the noble family of Leigh, proprietors
of Stoneleigh Abbey, Staffordshire.

t-Mr. Austen was first Lieutenant of all the above vessels except the
Minerva, Prince George, and Glory. The Lark formed part of the squa-
dron sent to escort H. S. H. the Princess Caroline of Brunswick from
Cuxhavcn to England ; she also assisted at the evacuation of Ostend and
Nieuport by the British troops. The Andromeda was employed convoy-
ing the trade to and from Elsineur. The Prince George bore Rear-Ad-
miral Christian's flag, which was afterwards removed to the Glory, in con-
sequence of the damages sustained by the former ship when attempting to
clear the Channel, in Nov. 1 795 J. The Triton, whose commander had
been a Lieutenant of the Perseverance when Mr. Austen belonged to that
ship, was concerned in the capture of five French privateers, and destroyed
several of the enemy's coasting vessels. The London formed part of the
fleet under Earl St. Vincent, employed in the blockade of Cadiz.

J See p. 96, et teq.

T 2

276 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800,

On the 3d Feb. 1799, Lieutenant Austen was promoted to
the rank of Commander, in the Peterel sloop of war at Gibral-
tar. In this vessel he was employed affording protection to
the Mediterranean trade, carrying despatches, and occasion-
ally cruising amongst the Balearic islands, on the coast of
Catalonia, and in the gulfs of Lyons and Genoa, where he
captured and destroyed upwards of forty vessels of various
descriptions. Whilst performing these services, the Peterel
was repeatedly exposed to a heavy fire from the enemies'
batteries ; and on one occasion had her first Lieutenant mor-
tally wounded *. He also assisted at the capture of a French
squadron returning from Egypt, in July 1799 f.

On the 21st March, 1800, Captain Austen, whilst cruising
near Marseilles, under the orders of Captain Oliver, of the
Mermaid frigate, fell in with and attacked three French na-
tional vessels, two of which, le Cerf, a ship mounting fourteen
6-pounders, and le Joilliet, a xebec of 6 guns, were driven on
the rocks, where the former was totally wrecked ; the third>
la Ligurienne, a brig of fourteen brass 6-poundersy two 36-pr.
howitzers, of the same metal, and 104 men, was obliged to
surrender, after a running fight of about an hour and a half ;
during which the Peterel was never more than a cable's
length from the shore, and frequently not half that distance.
This service was performed under a heavy fire from a battery
of four24-pounders ; and fortunately, without the loss of a inau
on our side. La Ligurienne had her commander and 1 man
killed, a midshipman and 1 seaman wounded. Captain Oliver
was in sight to leeward, but out of gun-shot ; the following
is an extract from his official letter to Lord Keith : " At one
time the PetereVs stern touched a rock, where she stopped

* The officer alluded to was Lieutenant Brenton, brother of the present
Captains Sir Jahleel and Edward Pelham Breuton. He was unfortunately
shot through the breast in a daring attempt to capture an armed vessel near
Barcelona, see p. 270.

"t The French squadron consisted of three frigates and two brigs, whose
names appear in Vol. I. at p. 267. They were first discovered and chased
by the fleet under Lord Keith; but only four 74's, five frigates, and the
Peterel, were present at their capture. Since we published Admiral Mark-
ham's memoir, we have been credibly informed that that officer was fortui-
tously the senior present : he had not been entrusted with the command of
a squadron.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 277

for a few minutes. It is impossible for me to express in
terms strong enough, the gallant conduct of Captain Austen,
his officers, and ship's company, on this occasion, in a contest
against so superior a force *."

The Peterel was subsequently employed blockading Genoa,
and stationed for a considerable time as the advanced ship of
Lord Keith's squadron, with directions never to be more
than three miles distant from the mole-head, whether by day
or night. The manner in which those orders were obeyed
may be inferred from the circumstance of her having been
twice fired at by the British gun-boats ; their officers imagin-
ing, from her closeness to the shore, that she was an enemy's
vessel attempting to enter the port. It is almost superfluous
to add, that Captain Austen received the Admiral's thanks
for his zeal and diligence in so arduous and anxious a si-
tuation.

After the surrender of Genoa, in June 1800 f, Captain
Austen was sent to join Sir W. Sidney Smith on the coast of
Egypt. In Aug. following, he rendered an important service
to the allied forces, by preventing the French from landing
the ordnance of a Turkish 80-gun ship, which had grounded
bn a reef between Aboukir Castle and Bequiere island.
Indjee Bey, her commander, with part of his crew, surren-
dered to the enemy ; the remainder escaped to two Ottoman
corvettes, and refused to give the English sloop any assistance,
saying they had saved their clothes, and that they could not
think of exposing themselves to the fire of the Frenchmen,
who had obtained possession of their ship, and were removing
her guns into some djerms at the time Captain Austen arrived
to their aid. The Peterel anchored within gun-shot, com-
pelled the enemy, about 300 in number, to abandon their
intention, and succeeded in setting fire to the ship ; by which

* According to JAMES, the Peterel mounted sixteen long 6-pounders,
and eight 12-pr. carronades, with a complement of 120 men. Captain
Austen, in his report of the action, noticed the previous capture of two
vessels laden with wheat, which had sailed from Cette that morning under
protection of le Cerf and her consorts j and the absence of his first Lieu-
tenant, gunner, and 30 men, in prizes. He also described laLigurienne as
a very fine brig, built on a peculiar plan, being fastened throughout with
screw bolts, so as to be taken to pieces and set up again with ease,
f See Vol. I. p. 53.

POST-CAFFAINS OF 1800.

she was soon consumed to the water's edge. For his conduct
on this occasion, our officer was presented by the Capitan
Pacha, with a rich sabre and pelisse. On the 20th Oct. in
the same year, he received the first intelligence of his pro-
motion to post rank, for his action off Marseilles, from Cap-
tain Inglis, by whom he was succeeded in the command of
the Peterel at Rhodes. His commission bears date May 13,
1800.

On his return to England, in the spring of 1801, Captain
Austen found his friend Vice-Admiral Gambier was about to
assume a command in the Channel fleet, and had applied for
him to be appointed his Captain in the Neptune of 98 guns *.
Circumstances, not necessary to be detailed here, prevented
him joining that ship till September following ; from which
period he continued to command her till Oct. 1802, when he
was superseded by Captain Drury, and at the same time
declined the offer of a frigate made him by Earl St. Vin-
cent f.

At the renewal of hostilities in 1803, Captain Austen was
appointed to embody and command a corps of Sea Fencibles
at Ramsgate, where he remained ten months. In May
1804, he received a commission for the Leopard, a 50-gun
ship, bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Louis, with whom he
served during the remainder of that year, off Boulogne ; and
afterwards removed into the Canopus of 80 guns, on the Me-
diterranean station ; the Rear-Admiral having been sent
thither at the particular request of Lord Nelson, who in a
letter to Earl Moira (now Marquis of Hastings), written
about this period, makes the following mention of Captain
Austen :

" You may rely upon every attention in ray power to Captain Austen.
I hope to see him alongside a French 80-gun ship, and he cannot be better
placed than in the Canopus, which was once a French Admiral's ship, and
struck to me. Captain Austen I knew a little of before; he is an excellent
young man."

The Canopus accompanied Lord Nelson to the West Indies,

* Lord Gambier and the late Sir H. Martin, Comptroller of the Navy,
were Captain Austen's first naval patrons.

•f The Neptune was paid off at the peace in April 1802, and re-com*
missioned as a guard-ship at Portsmouth by Captain Austen.

POST- CAFf AIMS O? 1800. 279

in pursuit of the combined squadrons of France and Spain,
and continued under his orders till Aug. 15, 1805, the day
on which his Lordship formed a junction with Admiral Corn-
wallis off Ushant * ; from whence she was sent with a strong
detachment under Sir Robert Calder in quest of the enemy,
and having joined Vice-Admiral Collingwood near Cadiz, re-
mained at the head of the advanced squadron, watching that
port till Nelson arrived from England and resumed the chief
command of the Mediterranean fleet, when Rear-Admiral
Louis was detached to Tetuan and Gibraltar with the Gano-
pus, Spencer, Queen, Tigre, and Zealous, for the purpose of
procuring supplies of water and provisions. During the ab-
sence of this squadron, the combined forces put to sea, and
the glorious battle of Trafalgar took place. Captain Austen
was thus unfortunately deprived of the opportunity of sharing
in that most brilliant victory : an event which appears to
have been anticipated by the Rear-Admiral, who, when taking
leave of the commander-in-chief, expressed his reluctance to
gOj saying, " I know, my Lord, the enemy will come out,
you will have an action, and we shall be thrown out." " My
dear Louis," replied his Lordship, " I have no other means
of keeping my fleet supplied, but by sending them a few at
a time to compleat, and I send you first, because I would
have you with me in the day of battle ; I consider your squa-
dron as my right hand : the enemy will come out, and we
shall fight them, I am confident of that ; but you will be back
first, — so make yourself easy : I need not tell you to make
haste back." jvfiw'h

We have related the substance of the last conversation that
ever took place between Nelson and Rear-Admiral Louis,
lest our account of the battle of Trafalgar should be consi-
dered by others as calculated to convey a wrong impression,
and one not very creditable to the latter officer. We beg
leave to add, his Lordship did not detach the Canopus and
her companions on a particular service^, in the common
acceptation of those terms, but simply to compleat their water
and provisions. This service was completed on the third day
after they had passed the Streights j and Rear-Admiaal Louis

* See Vol. I. note at p. 589, ft seq.
''••' 'f 'See VoJ. I. line 14 of note at p. 202.

280 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

only waited for a wind to carry him back through the Gut,
when a valuable convoy arrived from England, which he re-
ceived orders to escort past Carthagena, where nine sail of
the line were lying ready for sea. The squadron actually
sailed from Gibraltar for this latter purpose, the very day M.
Villeneuve quitted Cadiz. As to the open manner * in which
we have stated the Rear- Admiral to have been detached, we
merely alluded to the impossibility of such a squadron reach-
ing Gibraltar without being seen by the Spaniards at Alge-
ziras ; from whence notice of its arrival at the rock would of
course be immediately transmitted to Cadiz.

Rear-Admiral Louis was subsequently employed watching
the remnant of the combined fleets, under the orders of Sir
John T. Duckworth, who left his station late in November to
pursue a French squadron, which had chased the Lark sloop
of war near Madeira. Gaining no information of the enemy
at that island, nor off the Canaries, Sir John was returning
towards Cadiz, when at day-break on the 25th Dec., six sail
of the line and a frigate were discovered about four leagues
distant to the eastward. The English squadron, consisting
of the Superb, Canopus, Spencer, Donegal, Powerful, and
Agamemnon, two deckers, Acasta and Amethyst frigates,
chased the enemy till the following day at noon, when they
effected their escape ; and Sir John T. Duckworth, in con-
sequence of his ships having been run so far to leeward, and
being in general short of water, determined, after despatching
the Powerful to the Cape of Good Hope and the East Indies,
and the Amethyst to England, to proceed with the remainder
to Barbadoes, where he arrived on the 10th Jan. 1806 f.

* See Vol. I. line 15 of note at p. 202.

f Having stated in our first volume, page 345, that Sir John T. Duck-
worth had been sent by Lord Colliugwood in quest of a squadron which
had sailed from France to relieve St. Domingo, and that the Powerful was
despatched from the Leeward Islands to the East Indies, we lose no time
in correcting those errors (into which Mr. JAMES has likewise fallen).
Neither Lord Collingwood nor Sir John T. Duckworth had heard of the
sailing of any such squadron so destined ; and the latter merely went to
the West Indies, in consequence of the impossibility of regaining his station
without previously procuring supplies. Lord Collingwood was much dis-
pleased when he heard of his departure from before Cadiz. The Powerful
was detached from off the Cape de Verd Island?, as stated in the text above.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 281

From Carlisle Bay, Sir John T. Duckworth proceeded to
St, Kitt's, where he commenced watering and refitting his
ships ; intending, as he heard nothing of an enemy in that
quarter, to return as expeditiously as possible to his proper
station. On the 1st Feb., however, Captain N. D. Cochrane
arrived in the short space of twenty-four hours from St!
Thomas's, with intelligence of a French squadron being at
St. Domingo. Sir John T. Duckworth, reinforced by Sir
Alexander Cochrane with the Northumberland and Atlas 74's,
a frigate and two sloops, immediately sailed thither ; and on
the 6th, attacked and defeated the enemy, capturing three sail
of the line, and destroying a 3-decker and an 84-gun ship.
In this action the Canopus had 8 men killed and 22 wounded.
After refitting at Jamaica, she sailed in company with the
Spencer, Donegal, and the prizes, for Plymouth, where she
arrived at the latter end of April.

For his conduct in the battle off St. Domingo, Captain
Austen received a gold medal, the thanks of both Houses of
Parliament, and a vase, value one hundred pounds, from the
Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's. He left the Canopus June 22,
1806, and did not serve again till the beginning of April 1807,
when he was appointed to the St. Albans of 64 guns ; in which
ship he convoyed five East Indiamen to the Cape of Good
Hope, from whence he returned home in company with the
Lion 64, and a valuable fleet of Chinamen. In the ensuing
year, we find him escorting another fleet from St. Helena to
England ; and subsequently a number of transports, having
on board about 2000 troops, commanded by General Anstru-
ther, to the coast of Portugal, where this reinforcement was
landed just in time to assist at the battle of Vimieraj
after which Captain Austen superintended the embarkation of
the wounded men belonging to Sir Arthur Wellesley's army,
and conducted them in safety to Oporto. On his return to
Spithead, he was ordered to the North Sea ; but soon after
removed from that station, in consequence of his ship re-
quiring to be docked. The next service he performed, was
that of superintending the debarkation at Portsmouth of those
brave troops who had survived Sir John Moore's disastrous
campaign in Spain.

In April 1809, Captain Austen sailed with seven of the

£82 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

East India Company's ships tinder his protection for China,
where he arrived in September ; and, pursuant to his orders,
remained to convoy them home. A dispute with the Chinese
caused a total suspension of the trade for six weeks, but was
at length happily settled without any compromise of our na-
tional honor; and the St. Albans with her valuable charge,
consisting of thirteen ships, worth nearly two millions ster-
ling, took her departure on the 2d March, and arrived in the
Powns at the end of July 1810. Captain Austen's conduct
on this occasion, and the remonstrances presented by him to
the Chinese government, were highly approved by the Ad-
miralty ; and the Court of Directors voted him 1000 guineas,
as a testimony of the sense they entertained of his attention
to the interests of the Honorable Company.

Our officer continued in the St. Albans till Sept. 1810,
when he accepted an offer from Lord Gambier, to become his
Captain in the Caledonia, a first rate, which ship he joined
at Spithead about November following. From that period
until the expiration of his Lordship's command, he was em-
ployed in Basque Roads, and cruising off the French coast.
, In July 1811, Captain Austen was appointed to the Ele-
phant 74, attached to the North Sea fleet, commanded by
Admiral Young. During the winter of 1812, he was sent
with the Phcebe and Hermes under his orders, to cruise off
the Western Islands ; where, in company with the latter ves-
sel, he captured the Sword Fish, an American privateer of
twelve 6-pounders and 82 men. The Elephant was subse-
quently stationed in the Baltic, from whence she returned in
Dec. 1813. She was put out of commission in May folio wing,
and Captain Austen has ever since been on half pay. He
was nominated a Companion of the Bath, at the extension of
that order in 1815.

Captain Austen even when a boy, was very fond of prac-
tical astronomy and hydrography, and his taste for the latter
science led him on all possible occasions to employ his lei-
sure hours in making surveys of the various places he visited,
of which there are several specimens in the Hydrographical
Office.

He married, in July 1806, Mary, eldest daughter of John
Gibson, Esq., of Ramsgate. That lady died July 13, 1823,

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 283

leaving issue six sons and five daughters. His eldest son is
now serving as a Midshipman on board the Revenge 78,
bearing the flag of Sir Harry Neale, in the Mediterranean.

Captain Austen has two brothers living ; one, a clergyman,
took the sirname of Knight, on succeeding to considerable
property in Kent and Hampshire. The other is a Post-
Captain of 1810. Another brother (deceased) was in holy
orders.

Agent. —

BENDALL ROBERT LITTLEHALES, ESQ.

THIS officer is the second son of the late Baker John Little-
hales, of Moulsey House, Surrey, Esq., a Barrister at Law,
by Maria, daughter and sole heiress of Bendall Martyn, Esq.
His elder brother, Edward, formerly a Lieutenant -Colonel in
the army, was created a Baronet of Great Britain, as a reward
for various important services in Ireland, Sept. 2, 1802 j and
obtained the Royal permission to assume the surname of
Baker only, Jan. 6, 1817-

He entered the naval service at an early age, as a Midship-
man, on board the Vigilant 64, under the protection and com-
mand of Captain (afterwards Sir Robert) Kingsmill ; and at
a period (early in 1778) when the insidious conduct of France
caused this country, already engaged in a war with her Ame-
rican colonies, to make preparations for a long, severe, and
bloody contest with her ancient European rivals.

The Vigilant had 2 men killed and 3 wounded in the action
between Keppel and d'Orvilliers *. At the conclusion of the
same year, she was ordered to the West Indies f, where Mr.
Littlehales removed into the Royal Oak 74; which ship
formed part of Vice- Admiral Byron's fleet, and sustained a
loss of 4 men slain and 12 wounded, in the battle off Grenada,
July 6, 1779J- From that date he was almost constantly
employed in different ships and on various stations, till his
promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, in Sept. 1790; soon

* See Vol. I. note t at 195, et teg.

t Captain Kingsmill having resigned his command, was superseded by
the late Sir Digby Deut, who died in 181 7.

I See p. 50 et seq., of the present volume.

284 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

after which he joined his friend Captain Kingsmill in the
Duke of 90 guns *.

In 1793 Mr. Littlehales was appointed first Lieutenant of
the Rose frigate, at the particular request of her gallant com-
mander, the late Captain Edward Riou f, with whom he pro-
ceeded to the West Indies, in company with the expedition
under Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey. On that station
he saw and assisted at much service both on shore and afloat,
particularly at the siege of Martinique ; during which he
served in one of the batteries on Point Carriere, and assisted
at the storming of Fort Louis, against which they had been
erected £.

Soon after this dashing exploit, Lieutenant Littlehales re-
moved with Captain Riou into the Beaulieu of 40 guns ;
which ship having lost 7 officers and a proportionate num-
ber of men by the yellow fever in less than three months,
was sent to Halifax in order to get rid of that dreadful ma-
lady. After heaving down and refitting there, she cruised
for some time with considerable success on the coast of Vir-

• In 1784, Mr. Littlehales, then belonging to the Salisbury of 50 guns,
stationed at Newfoundland, was placed under a Lieutenant in the Laurens,
a brig of between 70 and 80 tons, with a crew of only 12 men, employed,
\ve believe, as a tender to the flag-ship. Whilst lying to, during a heavy
gale of wind, on her return from the coast of Labrador to St. John's, a
tremendous sea struck and laid this little vessel on her beam ends, thereby
obliging our officer and his companions to get on her weather broadside,
where they continued for some time in the most imminent peril, expecting
every moment either to be washed off or go to the bottom with their brig.
Fortunately, however, they succeeded in cutting away the laniards of her
lower rigging, and the masts going soon after, she righted sufficiently to
allow them to replace the ballast which had shifted. After enduring very
great privations, in consequence of their slender stock of provisions, and
being driven by the fury of the storm above 100 leagues from the land,
they were at length, by a fortunate shift of wind, and the aid of some sails
belonging to their only boat, the loss of which and every other buoyant
article, had left them no other alternative but to share their vessel's fate,
enabled to regain the island, and with the assistance of boats from the
shore, to reach the bay of Bulls in safety.

f The same officer who commanded and saved the Guardian in 1789.
He fell in the battle of Copenhagen, April 2, 1801. He was a most clear-
headed, skilful, and brave officer.

I See Vol. I. note at p. 859.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 285

ghria ; and then returned to the Leeward Islands, where
Lieutenant Littlehales again distinguished himself by volun-
teering to board and destroy a French store-ship, lying aground
under the protection of a land battery : the circumstance is
thus alluded to in a letter from the late Captain Westcott, of
the Majestic 74, bearing the flag of Vice- Admiral Caldwell,
(then commander-in-chief pro tempore at the Caribbees) to
Captain Riou's sister :

" Your brother sent me the enclosed letter to wait for the first packet'
since which we have been cruising offPoint aPitre, Guadaloupe; and the
day after our arrival there, I had the pleasure to see the Beaulicu anchor
against a battery at St. Franqois, and a large French ordnance store-ship
of 18 guns, that had run there a few hours before for protection. Your
brother with the guns cleared the way, and Littlehales boarded the ship
with a hawser from the Beaulieu, and tried to heave her off; but finding her
aground and iramoveable, he took out the prisoners and set her on fire.
He went on this service himself, being about two leagues to windward of
the squadron, and performed it in a way that was the admiration of all
those who could only look on. * * * *

(Signed) " G. B. WESTCOTT."

For this service, performed immediately under the eye of
the commander-in-chief, Mr. Littlehales was removed into
the Majestic on promotion ; but unfortunately no vacancy
occurred previous to Vice-Admiral Caldwell being superseded
by Sir John Laforey. He therefore returned to England with
the former officer as his flag Lieutenant, in the Blanche fri-
gate, and arrived at Spithead July 29, 1/95.

Shortly after his return, the subject of this memoir was ap-
pointed first Lieutenant of the Amazon frigate, at the parti-
cular request of Captain (afterwards Rear-Admiral) R. C.
Reynolds, with whom he was most actively and successfully
employed cruising with the squadrons under Sir W. Sidney
Smith and Sir Edward Pellew, till Jan. 14, 1797 ; on which
day the Amazon was wrecked in Hodierne bay, after a gallant
action with les Droits de I'Homme, a French 80-gun ship *.
As Captain Reynolds's official letter on this occasion was
never published in the London Gazette, we here present our

readers with a copy thereof:

" Quimper, Jan. 20, 1797.

" Sir. — It is with inexpressible concern that I have to acquaint you, for
the information of their Lordships, of the fate of his Majesty's ship Aaia-

* See Vol. I, p. 217, ct seq.

286 posT-cApTAfNs OF 1800;

zon, wrecked on the French coast in Hodierne bay, on the 14th instant.
Their Lordships are already acquainted, by Sir E. Pellew, of our shattered
condition towards the end of our united action with les Droits de 1'Homme,
a French man-of-war, commanded by Capt. (ci-devant Baron) Le Cross.
The various situations and changes incident to so long an action, I forbear
to mention ; Sir E. Pellew having unquestionably done it in a better man-
ner than I am able. The Amazon began to engage about seven o'clock in
the evening on the 13th, an hour after Sir Edward had gallantly com-
menced the action, and continued a running fight until live the next morn-
ing, which brought us forty leagues from where we began the chase, near
the French coast ; and the wind blowing strong directly upon the shore, in
the eagerness of pursuit, and during the heat of battle, we were unable
accurately to calculate the distance we had run ; and our masts, yards,
and rigging, being miserably shattered, it was not possible for us to work
off shore. Our mizen-top-mast, gaff, spanker-boom, and main-top-sail-
yard, were entirely shot away ; the main and fore-masts, the fore and main-
yards, wounded in several places by large shot, some of which we judged
to be 36-pounders j our shrouds, stays, and back-stays, many of them shot
away, besides those we had knotted and stoppered in the action ; and our
cordage all expended in reeving running-rigging. In this condition, Sir,
and with three feet water in our hold, we struck the ground a little after
five in the morning, and not more than ten minutes after we bad ceased
firing. Les Droits de 1'Homme met with a similar fate a little distance
from us, and almost at the same moment. From half past five to nine
o'clock, we were employed in making rafts to save the men ; and it gives
me unspeakable comfort, that not a man was lost after the ship struck the
shore, except six that stole away the cutter from the stern, and were
drowned. Myself and officers quitted not the ship till with great care and
pains we got the wounded and every man out of her. We ware received
on shore by a party of soldiers, who conducted us to the little town of
Hodierne, about a league from the ship. Thence they marched us through
Dournancy to Quimper, where we now remain, and are well treated. I am
not able to express my satisfaction for the noble support I received from
the officers in general, and petty officers, during the action : to particularise
either, I hope, will not be considered as taking from the merits of the
whole j but Mr. Littlehales, the first Lieutenant, being constantly on the
quarter-deck with me throughout the whole of the action, it would be unjust
and ungrateful in me not to acknowledge the ample assistance he afforded
in every situation throughout the course of so long and trying a conflict ;
and if a man, who has unfortunately lost bis ship, (though I hope not
dishonorably,) may be permitted, I humbly beg leave to recommend Mr.
Littlehales to their Lordships' notice and patronage. I hope this will not
be deemed to derogate from the merits of Lieutenants Nichols and Thomas,
who were quartered on the main-deck, and who, during a great part of the
action, fought half way up their legs in water, cheering and inspiring cou-
rage to all around them by their own animated and gallant example.
Mangled as we were in our hull, as well as in our masts, yards, and rigging,

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 287

thanks to Almighty God, we had but 3 men killed, and 15 badly wounded.
I rest firmly assured that Sir E. Pellew has done ample justice to my con-
duct in his representation of the engagement to their Lordships; and I
humbly hope no blemish will attach to my character, for a misfortune oc-
casioned by an impatient ardour to signalise British valour opposed to
superior force. I have the honor, to be, &c.

(Signed) " R. C. REYNOLDS."

A circumstance occurred in the course of the action with
les Droits de I'Homme, which we notice for the purpose of
shewing our non-military readers what effect even the wind
of a shot is capable of producing. Lieutenant Littlehales was
knocked down senseless when standing near Captain Rey-
nolds, who lifted him from the deck, and ordered some of the
men to take him below ; by the time they had reached the
foot of the quarter-deck ladder, however, he recovered his
senses, and forthwith returned to his post ; but his chest and
the upper part of his arms were black and blue for several
weeks afterwards. «is<

After the ship struck the ground, Mr. Littlehales, as first
Lieutenant, was too much occupied to think of his wardrobe
and other private pi operty ; and his servant being one of those
who were drowned in the boat, he lost every article thereof.

On the 29th Sept. in the same year, Captain Reynolds and
his officers having previously been exchanged, a Court-Martial
was assembled at Plymouth to enquire into the circumstances
attending the loss of the Amazon, and to try her late com*
mander, officers, &c. &c. fortheir conductronthatoccasion. The
Court declared as their unanimous opinion, that the Amazon
was unavoidably lost in consequence of her being so far in
shore at the close of a well- disputed action with les Droits
de 1'Homme, during which she had suffered materially in her
masts and rigging ; that too much praise could not be
awarded to Captain Reynolds, his officers and crew, by
whom, in conjunction with the Indefatigable, an enemy's
line-of-battle ship was destroyed ; and that the loss of the
Amazon was the result of a noble pursuit of an enemy of
superior force on her own coast. Captain Reynolds, his offi-
cers, &c. &c. were therefore most honorably and fully acquit-
ted of all blame, and with every sentiment of the Court's
highest approbation.

Lieutenant Littlehales was made a Commander immedi-

288 POST-CAFfAINS OF 1800.

ately after the trial ; and in Jan. 1798, appointed to the
Penguin sloop of war on the Irish station, where he continued
till advanced to post rank, May 15, 1800. Some time after
this promotion, he was nominated acting Captain of the
Centaur 74, at the request of her proper commander, the pre-
sent Admiral Markham, then about to take a seat at the
Board of Admiralty. During the remainder of the war, .we
find him cruising off Brest and Rochefort.

In the night of April 10, 1801, the Centaur was run foul of
by the Mars 74, bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Thorn-
brough, commander of the in-shore squadron off Brest. Two
men were killed and 4 wounded by the falling of the main-
mast. Captain Littlehales having rigged a jury-mast, bore
up for Plymouth, where he arrived on the 14th. After re-
pairing her damages, the Centaur rejoined the Channel Fleet ;
and at the latter end of the same year she formed part of the
squadron assembled in Bantry bay, where a mutiny broke
out on board some of the ships, in consequence of their being
ordered to the West Indies to watch the motions of an arma>-
ment which had sailed from Brest for St. Domingo ; and to
be in readiness to check the French commanders, should
they betray any sinister intentions against the valuable colo-
nies belonging to Great Britain in that quarter *.

The treaty of Amiens having been ratified by the British
and French governments, Captain Markham continued at the
Admiralty, the subject of this memoir was confirmed in the
command of the Centaur, and that ship selected by the late
Vice- Admiral Dacres to bear his flag at Plymouth j where
she remained till Nov. 18, 1802, on which day Captain Little-
hales sailed with sealed orders for Barbadoes, from whence
she conveyed Lieutenant-General Grinfield, the military
commander-in-chief, to the different islands, on a tour of
inspection.

In 1803, after a short cessation, war was again declared,
and Sir Samuel Hood, who had hoisted his broad pendant on
board the Centaur as Commodore at the Leeward Islands,
lost not a moment in proceeding to the attack of St.. Lucia ;
and in thirty-six hours after his departure from Carlisle bay,

* See Vol. I, p. 6/0.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1900. 289

that island was obliged to surrender to the British arms *.
The naval force employed on this occasion, consisted of two
74's and six smaller vessels.

Captain Littlehales' " assiduity and attention," during this
short but successful expedition, were duly acknowledged by
Sir Samuel Hood, with whose despatches, announcing the
conquest of St. Lucia, he returned to England in the Morne
Fortunee, a brig purchased for the purpose. Ill health, occa-
sioned by his long services in the West Indies, preventing
him from accepting the command of an active ship, he has
not since been afloat. For two years previous to the disso-
lution of the Sea Fencibles, he commanded the Liverpool
district ; and during the last four or five years of the war?
superintended the payment of ships afloat at Plymouth.

Our officer married, Aug. 22, 1803, Mary Anna, daughter
of Thomas Cleather, Esq. of Plymouth, and by that lady has
four sons and one daughter now living. The second son is at
present a Midshipman in the Revenge 78, under the auspices
of Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Neale.

Agent.

ROBERT PHILPOT, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790, and obtained
the rank of Commander Jan. 3, 1799. On the 14th Oct. fol-
lowing, being on a cruise off Porto Rico in the Echo sloop of
war, he chased a French letter of marque mounting 12 four-
pounders, with a complement of 30 men, into Aguadilla bay ;
and the following day his boats captured a Spanish brig of
2 guns and 20 men, laden with cocoa and indigo. On the
16th in the evening, the Echo's pinnace and jolly-boat, con-
taining 15 men, under the command of Lieutenant Napier,
pulled into the bay and succeeded in carrying the letter of
marque, which was brought off in triumph, notwithstanding
a heavy fire from 2 field-pieces, one 18-pounder, and several
smaller guns, all placed on the beach for her protection. In
the execution of this service the pinnace was sunk, but not a
man hurt. The prize had on board a valuable cargo, and was
bound to Cura§oa.

* See Vol.1, p. 481.

VOL. II. U

'290 POST-CAPTATNS OF 1800.

Captain Philpot was posted into the Prompte, a 20-gun
whip, July I, 1800; and convoyed a fleet of merchantmen
from Jamaica to England in the spring of 1801. He subse-
quently commanded the Brighton district of Sea Fencibles,
and regulated the impress service at Deal.

Agent.— Messrs. Atkins and Son.

PATRICK CAMPBELL, ESQ.

A Companion of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath.

THIS officer commanded the Dart sloop of war, aJnd assisted
a£ the capture of four armed vessels on the North Sea station,
Oct. 6, 1799. In July following, we find him; serving
under the orders of Captain Henry Inman, in an attempt made
to destroy a French squadron lying in Dunkirk harbour: the
following are the particulars of the affair, as far as respects
Captain Campbell.

The Andromeda frigate, with two pr three smaller v,essels>
having spent some time in the irksome service of blockading
Dunkirk, and conceiving it practicable to capture or destroy
the enemy's ships as they lay at anchor, Captain Inman of the
Andromeda submitted a plan for that purpose to the Ad-
miralty, and requested that a certain number of fire-vessels
might be placed under his command, to enable him to carry
it into 'effect- His scheme being approved by Earl Spencer,
he was joined by the desired reinforcement on the 2/th June,
but from contrary winds and other circumstances, the attack
•could not be made till the night of July 7th ; by which time,
the enemy appear to have been apprised of the British squa-
'dron's intention, as the assailants were much annoyed by
gun- vessels, and others lying in advance, which afforded the
French frigates an. opportunity to cut their cables, and avoid
our fire-ships. OCJHS bin

Captain Inman had directed the Dart, if possible, to run
alongside of the easternmost frigate ; calculating that the
first fire-ship would about the same time have hooked the
westernmost frigate. Captain Campbell stood in according
to his orders, and with determined bravery boarded and
carried his opponent. The fire-vessels followed ; but the

moment they were discovered to be in flames, the remainder

* .im .' <r.rn /

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

of the French squadron cut, and stood down the inner chan-
nel, within the Braak sand ; on the following morning, they
regained their anchorage, without our ships being able to mo-
lest or cut them off.

Captain Campbell's prize proved to be la Desiree, mount-
ing 40 guns, long 24-pounders on the main-deck, with a com-
plement of 350 men, some of whom were on shore. Captain
Inman, in his official letter to the Admiralty, says, " the hand-
some and intrepid manner of his completely carrying her in
less than a quarter of an hour, and bringing her out, must
convince their Lordships of his unparalleled bravery, and the
very gallant conduct of his officers and ship's company, as
the enemy's frigate was so much superior in force * ; and
had it not been so instantly done, the ship could not have
been got over the banks, as the water had begun to fall."
The Dart's loss on this occasion amounted to no more than
1 man slain, and her first Lieutenant and 10 men wounded;
la Desiree is said to have had nearly 100 killed and wounded,
including among the former every officer on board, with the
exception of one Midshipman. Only 6 men were wounded
on board the other vessels of Captain Inman's squadron.
The Earl of St. Vincent pronounced this to have been one of
the finest instances of gallantry on record.

Three days after the capture of la Desiree, the subject of
this memoir was advanced to post rank in the Ariadne, a 20»-
gun ship. His next appointment was* about Sept. 1803, to
the Doris frigate, stationed in the Channel.

On the 12th Jan. 1805, as the Doris was proceeding to
Quiberon bay, she struck upon a sunken rock, called the

'if i \'i ;^j/:i') * y<r rbiifw ilirflr p'ia*^
* " The Dart was a curiously constructed sloop of war, after the plan of
General Bentham, mounting1 30 guns. Her bow and stern were of the
same shape, and she could anchor by either end ; though it must be ob-
served, but very awkwardly, particularly in bad weather. She carried her
water in wooden tanks, and was so sharp in her construction, that a tra-
verse section taken amid ships, had nearly the form of a wedge: she had
two top-masts on the same lower-mast, parallel to each other, and ker
gangways were outside of the lower rigging : she had no stability in the
water, and was found in blowing weather to be a very unsafe vessel. Cap •
tarn Campbell made the only use of her for which she was calculated, vis.
that of laying an enemy on board." See BRENTON'S Naval History of
Great Britain, vol. ii, p. 425.

u 2

292 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Diamond, and in consequence thereof, made so much water,
that Captain Campbell was obliged to throw her guns and
every weighty article overboard. During the following day
it blew a tremendous gale at S. W., but the weather after-
wards moderating, they gained upon the leak, which was
under the fore-foot ; and in the evening she steered for Eng-
land with a fine breeze, accompanied by the Felix schooner.
During the third night, however, it blew hard from the N. W.
with a heavy sea, and the leak increased so much, that every
exertion to keep it under proved ineffectual ; she soon be-
came water-logged, of course would not answer her helm,
and drifted considerably to leeward. In this predicament,
Captain Campbell determined to abandon her, and accordingly
brought her to an anchor near the mouth of the Loire. At
this time there was a prodigious swell running, and breakers
in sight directly astern : happily the wind abated, or the crew
must have perished. The officers and men were now removed
to the schooner, and a Danish brig, which had been driven in
near to where the Doris lay ; after which the latter was set
on fire. The after magazine soon blew up, (the fore one had
been drowned previously) and the ship immediately went
down.

A few days after this disaster, Captain Campbell had
another narrow escape. The Felix having joined the squadron
off Rochefort, he removed from that vessel into the Tonnant
of 80 guns, commanded by Captain W. H. Jervis ; that ship
being about to proceed with despatches to the rendezvous of
the fleet blockading Brest, where she arrived on the 26th
January. Captain Jervis, eager to communicate the intelli-
gence with which he was charged, left the Tonnant in his
boat, accompanied by his guest, when still at a considerable
distance from the commander in-chief. Unfortunately, when
about half way between the Tonnant and St. Josef, the
latter bearing the flag of Sir Charles Cotton, the boat was
upset by a sea breaking into her ; and notwithstanding every
effort was made to save them, Captain Jervis and one of his
men were drowned. The conduct of Captain Campbell and
the coxswain on this melancholy occasion, deserve to be re-
corded : the latter, holding fast to his commander, kept him
above water a considerable time, and brought him thrice to

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1800. 293

the surface, when he was in the act of sinking ; and the for-
mer, although himself in the most perilous situation, regard-
less of his own state, kept constantly urging and encouraging
the gallant fellow, whose name was John Jones, to further
exertion.

In 1807, we find Captain Campbell commanding 1'Unite, a
fine frigate, stationed off Corfu. During the ensuing year,
he captured a French xebec of 6 guns, and three Italian brigs
of war, each mounting sixteen brass 32-pr. carronades, and
measuring about 400 tons *.

From 1' Unite, Captain Campbell removed into the Levia-
than of 74 guns, on the Mediterranean station. On the 29th
April, 1812, the boats of that ship made an attack on a French
privateer of 14 guns and 80 men, and several merchant ves-
sels at Agay ; four of the latter were brought out, and the
privateer carried ; but having been hauled on shore, could not
be got off : in their attempt to do so, the British had 2 men
killed and 4 wounded, by the enemy's fire from the shore.
Eleven days afterwards, a detachment of seamen and marines
from the Leviathan, assisted at the capture of sixteen mer-
chant vessels with cargoes, under the batteries of Languillaf.
On the 27th June following, the batteries at that place and
Allassio were stormed, the guns spiked, their carriages ren-
dered useless, and eighteen sail of vessels destroyed by the
Leviathan, and three other vessels under Captain Campbell's
orders. The principal part of this service was performed by
the royal marines, 7 of whom were killed and 26 wounded.
The total loss sustained by the squadron, was 9 killed and
3 1 wounded j amongst the latter was Lieutenant William
Walpole, R. N., of the Imperieuse frigate.

* El Rorico, Nettuno, and Teuhe". The former, although alone, had
the temerity to fire several broadsides at I'Unite*, and succeeded in doing
considerable damage to her sails and rigging. The two latter had sailed
from Zara the day before their capture, in company with another brig, for
the purpose of attacking the British frigate ; having heard that she had
many men absent and sick, and must inevitably fall an easy prey to them.
L'Unite" had not a man hurt ; but El Nettuno and her equally deceived
consort, suffered most severely ; the former sustained a loss of 7 men
killed, 2 drowned, and 13 wounded ; the latter had 5 slain and 16 wounded,
f See Vol. I. p. 633.

294 • POST-CAPTAINS OF Ij800.

The subject of this memoir has not been employed since
the peace. He was nominated a C. B. in June 1815.
Agent. — Thomas Collier, Esq.

NORBORNE THOMPSON, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790 ; commanded
the Zebra sloop of war in 1795 ; and subsequently the Savage
of 16 guns : the latter vessel formed part of Sir Home Pop-
ham's squadron at Ostend, in May 1/98. His post commis-
sion bears date Aug. 11, 1800. During the late war, we find
him successively commanding the Foudroyant 80 ; Minotaur
74 j Perlen frigate ; Bombay and Aboukir, third rates. The
former ship was employed blockading the coast of Portugal,
in 1807 * ; the Perlen assisted at the reduction of Flushing,
in 1809 f ; and the Aboukir at the capture of Genoa, in
1814 \.

Agent. — Harry Cook, Esq.

iiiuw /.- ;' . <, • svafr «y*aiW

SIR MICHAEL SEYMOUR, BART.

'Knight Commander of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath.
THIS officer is the second son of the late Rev. John Sey-
mour, Rector of Abington, and Chancellor of Emly, in Ireland,
and a Chaplain to the Archbishop of Cashel, by the youngest
daughter of William Hobart, of High Mount, co. Cork,
Esq.

He was born at Palace, in the county of Limerick, Nov.
8, 1768 ; and commenced his professional career as a Mid-
shipman on board the Merlin sloop of war, commanded by
the Hon. James Luttrell, in Nov. 1780. He subsequently
served with the same officer in the Portland 50, Mediator
44, and Ganges of 74 guns.

Whilst serving in the Mediator, Mr. Seymour participated
in a very warm action between that ship and a French squa-
dron of far superior force ; the result of which was the cap-
ture of le Menagere, a frigate armed en flute, and 1'Alex-
andre of 24 guns.

]VIr. Seymour left the Ganges in 1783 j and from that pe-

• See Vol. I. p. 320. f See id. p. 290. \ See id. p. 634.

PQSl -CAPTAINS OF 1800. 295

riod was almost constantly employed in different ships tUl
Nov. 1/90, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant,
in the Magnificent 74. His next appointment was to the
Marlboroughj another third rate, in which ship he lost an
arm on the memorable 1st June, 1794 *.

As a Commander, the subject of this memoir served about
five years in the Spitfire sloop of war, on the Channel station ;
and, among other prices, captured I'Allegree, a French ves-
sel laden with ammunition and other warlike stores ; six pri-
vateers, carrying in the whole, £7 guns and 301 men j and a
transport armed with 14 guns. His post commission bears
date Aug. 11, 1800.

At length, after acting as Captain of several line-pf-battlu
ships and frigates, our officer obtained the permanent com-
mand of the Amethyst, rated at 36, but mounting 42 guns,
with a complement of 261 men and boys ; in which ship,
whilst cruising) near 1'Orient, he fell in with, and after a
long, sharply contested, and bloody action at close quar-
ters, captured la Thetis, a French frigate of 44 guns and 436
men (including soldiers) ; of whom, according to Captain
Seymour's account, 136. were killed and 102 wounded. The
Amethyst had 19 slain and 51 wounded. This brilliant
exploit was performed in the night of Nov. 10, 1808.

His late Majesty was graciously pleased to signify his most
gracious approbation of Captain Seymour's distinguished
conduct in the action with la Thetis, by presenting him with
the naval gold medal : the Corporation of Cork and Limer-
ick voted him the freedom of those cities ; that of the former,
to be delivered in a silver box ; the latter, in a box made of
oak, and ornamented with gold. He also received a piece
of plate, value 100 guineas, from the Patriotic Fund at
Lloyd's f.

On the 6th April, 1809, Captain Seymour captured le
Niemen of 46 guns and 319 men. The enemy had 47 killed
and 73 wounded : the Amethyst, of whose crew a Lieutenant

• See note f, at p. 15.

f La Thetis was bound to Martinique, and had on board 1000 barrels
of flour, together with a quantity of other stores. A painting by Dodd,
representing the action between her and the Amethyst, was exhibited at
the Royal Academy, in 1809.

296 POST-CAPTA1N6 OF 1800.

and 37 men were absent in prizes, sustained a loss of 8 slain
and 37 wounded. In the course of the following month,
Captain Seymour was raised to the dignity of a Baronet of
Great Britain, as a reward for his gallant conduct in thus
adding a second large frigate to the royal navy *.

During the ensuing summer, we find Sir Michael Seymour
serving with the Walcheren expedition. He was afterwards
appointed in succession to the command of his prize le
Niemen, and the Hannibal of 74 guns. On the 26th March,
1814, the latter ship captured la Sultane French frigate,
of 44 guns and 330 men. This vessel had previously
suffered considerable damage in an action with two British
cruisers.

Sir Michael Seymour was nominated a K. C. B. in Jan.
1815 j and at present commands a royal yacht. His pension
for the loss of an arm is, we believe, 300/. per annum. He
married Jane, third daughter of the late Captain James
Hawker, R. N., and has several children. His brother Rich-
ard was first Lieutenant of the Amazon frigate, and fell in the
action between her and the Belle Poule, in March 1 806.

Agent* — — — — M'Inerheney, Esq.

EDWARD STIRLING DICKSON, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant July 9, 1780 ; com-
manded la Victorieuse of 14 guns and 130 men, at the Lee-
ward Islands, towards the close of 1796 j and was present at
the capture of Trinidad, in Feb. 1797 f-

On the 7th May, 1798, Captain Dickson, whilst convoying
some merchant vessels from Trinidad to St. Kitts, was at-
tacked by two French privateers, which attempted to carry la
Victorieuse by boarding, but were foiled hi their attempt ; and

* The French Captain's bombastic account of this action appears at full
length in the Nav. Chron. v. 22, p. 93, et seq. We should here observe
that the Amethyst, after beating her opponent, but previous to the enemy's
surrender, was joined by the Arcthusa frigate, commanded by the late Sir
Robert Mends. Of this circumstance M. du Potet avails himself in so
great a degree, as actually to declare that the Amethyst had struck to him,
and was about to be taken possession of when her friend appeared in

sight ! !

f See Vol. I. note at p. 112.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 297

the smallest, a sloop of 6 guns and 50 men, obliged to sur-
render. The other, a schooner carrying 12 guns and 80
men, was considerably damaged, but succeeded in effecting
her escape. The prize had 8 men killed and wounded ; la
Victorieuse sustained no loss whatever.

On the 3d Dec. following, la Victorieuse, in company with
the Zephyr sloop, and about 40 troops, destroyed a fort at
Rio Caribe, on the island of Marguerittaj two others at Gu-
rupano, and a small Dutch privateer; and captured la Cou-
leuvre of 6 guns and 80 men. The enemy's force at the latter
place was at least 300 men ; notwithstanding which, their
fire was silenced in fifteen minutes. The assailants had only
4 men killed and wounded. Captain Dickson had previously
captured two small French privateers, and destroyed another
of 12 guns and 80 men.

In July 1799, Captain Dickson was presented by the Eng-
lish inhabitants of Trinidad with a sword, value 100 guineas,
as a reward for his activity and diligence, in protecting the
trade of that colony. His post commission bears date Aug.
11, 1800.

From this period, we find no mention of him till the latter
end of 1803, when he was appointed to the Inconstant frigate.
On the 7th March following, he arrived off the island of
Goree, with a store-ship and some merchant vessels under
his protection ; and suspecting that the place might be in pos-
session of the enemy, sent Mr. Pickforcf, his first Lieutenant,
on shore to ascertain the fact. At sun-set, seeing no appear-
ance of the boat, Captain Dickson anchored out of gun-shot,
and it being highly necessary to obtain some information,
despatched Mr. Runciman, Midshipman, with three boats
properly manned and armed, to cut out any vessels he might
find in the harbour. Mr. Runcimau acquitted himself nobly,
bringing out a ship, under a heavy fire from the batteries,
which sunk one of his boats, but only wounded 1 man.
From the prize Captain Dickson learned, that the settlement
had been in the hands of the enemy about two months, and
that the garrison consisted of 300 white and black troops.
The following day was spent in making the necessary prepa-
rations for an attack ; and the French governor being aware of

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1800.

the British Captain's intentions, agreed to surrender by capi-
itulation on the morning of the 9th.

. We next find Captain Dickson commanding the Stately
64,. employed in the defence of Cadiz. On the 5th Dec. 181 1,
he was detached with the Druid frigate, Thunder bomb, and
several gun-boats under his orders, to co-operate with the
British troops at Tariffa, which place was then besieged by a
French army of 10,000 men, whilst the garrison under Colonel
Sikerrett did not exceed 1500. The enemy had pushed their
works close to that important fortress, the safety of which
must be attributed to the unwearied exertions of the*omcers
and men of the squadron, whose services were noticed in the
most handsome manner by Rear-Admiral Legge, who com-
manded at Cadiz, as also by Commodore Penrose, whose
broad pendant was then flying at Gibraltar. A very flatter-
ing vote of thanks was also decreed by the Spanish Regency
and Cortes.

From the Stately, Captain Dickson removed into the Swift-
sur,e 74, on the Mediterranean station ; where his boats cap-
tured the Charlemagne, a French privateer of 8 guns and 93
men, Nov. 26, 1813. The loss sustained by the British in
obtaining possession of this vessel, was 5 killed and 15
wounded.

. In 1814, Captain Dickson joined the Rivoli, another third
rate ; and on the 30th April, 1815, he captured le Mel-
pomene, a French frigate, on her passage from Elba to Naples,
to take on board Napoleon Buonaparte's mother. Le Mel-
pomene made a brave defence of fifteen minutes, was very
much cut up in her hull, masts, and rigging, and sustained a
loss of 6 men killed and 28 wounded. The Rivoli, whose
loss was only 1 man mortally, and a few others slightly
wounded, had thus the honor to receive the submission of
thje last tri-colored flag struck in action at sea *.

.^g-entf.-mlsaac Clementson, Esq.

• ; : >—

» t*itDo<EBWARD ROTHERAM, ESQ.

A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
THIS officer is a son of the late John Rotheram, M. D., of
* See James's Nav. Hist. v. 5, p. £61.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 299

Newcastle upon Tyne ; a gentleman of high estimation, both
as a medical practitioner, and a person of general science.

He was born at Hexham, in Northumberland, where his
father lived many years senior Physician of the Infirmary.
His elder brother, John, studied physic, &c., under the cele-
brated Linnaeus, at Upsal, and died Professor of Natural
Philosophy, in the University of St. Andrews, N.B., about
the year 1805.

Mr. Edward Rotheratn was early instructed in mathema-
tical learning by his father, and the late Dr. Hutton. He ac-
quired'practical navigation in the same school which bred
our immortal circumnavigator Cook — the Coal Trade — and
entering the navy, served during the whole of the American
war, chiefly in the squadron commanded by Admiral Barring-
ton j obtained a Lieutenant's commission April 19, 1783 ;
and was the senior officer of that, rank on board the Culloden
74, in the battle of June 1, 1794; an event that led to his
further promotion.

In 1795, we find him commanding the Camel store-shijj,
on the Mediterranean station ; and subsequently the Hawke
sloop of war and Lapwing frigate, at the Leeward Islands.
His post commission bears date Aug. 27, 1800.

In the unparalleled battle of Trafalgar, Vice-Admiral Col-
lingwood's gallantry was most ably seconded by Captain
Rotheram, who commanded the Royal Sovereign, a first rate,
bearing the flag of that excellent officer, by whom he was
subsequently appointed to the Bellerophon 74, as successor
to Captain John Cooke, who had fallen in the conflict *.

The severe loss sustained by the Royal Sovereign, is the
best proof of the share she had in the defeat of the combined
fleets. Her surgeon reported 3 officers, 2 midshipmen, and
42 men killed ; and 4 officers, 5 petty officers, and 85 men
wounded — total 141. At the close of the battle, not a spar
was left standing, except the tottering fore-mast, and it went
overboard in the ensuing gale.

The following anecdote has been related of Captain Ro-
theram, and we have no reason to doubt the authenticity
thereof : " A heavy shower of musketry had nearly swept the

. * See Captain WILLIAM PRYSE CUMBY ; and Vol. I. note at p. 205.

300 I'OUT-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

quarter-deck of the Royal Sovereign, when some of his of-
ficers requested him not to expose himself so much to the
enemy's small-arm men, by wearing his epaulets and a gold
laced hat. ' Let me alone J he replied, ' / have always
fought in a cocked hat, and always will.' "

Captain Rotheram bore the banner of NELSON as a K. B.
at the funeral of that great chieftain ; and was himself nomi-
nated a C. B. in 1815.

Agent. — William Marsh, Esq.

CHARLES GRANT, ESQ.

A Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Hath ; and
Commodore of the Squadron employed in the East Indies.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790; subsequently
commanded the Tisiphone sloop of war on the West India
station ; and returned from thence in the Quebec of 32 guns,
July 11, 1802. His post commission bears date Sept. 6,
1800.

Captain Grant's next appointments were, we believe, to
the Diadem 64; and Diana, a 38-gun frigate. In the lat-
ter, he conveyed Sir W. Sidney Smith from Rio Janeiro to
Portsmouth, where he arrived Aug. 7, 1809.

In Oct. 1809, the Diana, having under her orders the Niobe
of similar force, was employed watching the port of Havre,
where the enemy had two new 40-gun frigates, waiting an
opportunity to escape to sea. On the 13th of the following
month, the French ships having slipt out during a N. E.
gale, were discovered and obliged to take shelter under the
batteries of Marcou. In the course of the same day, Cap-
tain Grant and his consort being driven by the tide to the
northward of Cape Barfleur, the enemy made a push for, and
succeeded in reaching the anchorage near la Hogue. On the
following morning the Niobe was sent to inform the senior
officer off Cherbourgh, how the Frenchmen were situated ;
and Captain Grant had soon after the satisfaction to see one
of them run ashore. The next day the other perceiving that
she was about to be attacked by the Diana, weighed and took
up a position between the batteries of la Hogue and Tatilion.
Captain Grant, notwithstanding the formidable force opposed

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 301

to him, stood in twice close alongside of her, sustaining each
time a very heavy fire, by which the Diana suffered con-
siderably in her masts, sails, hull, and rigging. At this pe-
riod Captain Malcolm of the Donegal, arrived with the Re-
venge and Niobe, and the attack was renewed by the four
ships going in alternately, and making every exertion to des-
troy the enemy as long as the tide would allow them to do
so ; but being at length drifted to leeward, they were obliged
to desist and anchor out of gun-shot. In this affair, the
Donegal had 3 men wounded, the Revenge 2 killed and 8
wounded, and Diana 1 man slightly wounded.

At day-light on the 16th, one of the French frigates was
observed on her beam- ends, and the other also aground ; but
as they were perfectly protected by the batteries, and as it did
not appear to Captain Malcolm that any further attempt to
destroy them would prove effectual, he returned to his sta-
tion off Cherbourgh, leaving Captains Grant and Loring to
watch la Hogue.

The following is a copy of the letter Captain Grant soon
after received from his commander in-chief, dated Royal Wil-
liam, Spithead, Nov. 22, 1810:

" Sir. — Having transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
your letter of the 16th instant, detailing your proceedings in an attack on
two of the enemy's frigates, which escaped from Havre in the night of the
12th, and which had taken refuge under the batteries of la Hogue, I am di-
rected by their Lordships to convey to you their approbation of the zeal,
gallantry, and good conduct shewn by yon, and by all the officers and men
of the ships under your orders on that occasion. I am, Sir, &c. &c.

(Signed) " ROGEU CURTIS."

The enemy afterwards got their ships afloat, and one of
them effected her escape into Havre. The other, being at-
tacked by a bomb- vessel, was again obliged to run aground
on the 6th Dec. lay a wreck until the night of the 23d, when
she was set on fire and completely destroyed by the boats of the
Diana, under a heavy fire from the batteries, and three armed
brigs lying within hail of her. This service was performed
without a man being hurt on the part of the British *.

In 1812, Captain Grant was appointed to the Armada of 74

* The other frigate was subsequently destroyed by her own crew. See
Captain JOHN WENTWORTH LORING, C. B. . V "••-%

302 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1900.

guns, fitting for the Mediterranean station, where he served
during the remainder of the war.

On the 19th July, 1813, the marines of the Armada, and
two frigates, landed and took possession of the batteries near
Bordighero, a town on the coast of Italy, spiked the guns, de-
stroyed the ammunition, and burnt all the vessels lying on the
beach. In Nov. fallowing, when forming part, of the in-shore
squadron off Toulon, the Armada received a shot from one of
the enemy's fleet, which passing through the bows of her
launch, lodged among the booms, without doing any farther
mischief. Towards the close of the same year, she assisted
in an attempt made by Sir Josias Rowley to obtain possession
of Leghorn *.

A few days after the surrender of Genoa to the British
arms f, Captain Grant was sent with the Armada, Curagoa,
and twelve Sicilian gun-boats, to co-operate with a detach-
ment of troops in the reduction of Savona ; the garrison of
which fortress surrendered by capitulation on the 24th April,
1814.

Our officer was nominated a C. B. in 1815, and appointed
Commodore of the squadron in India, Oct. 22, 1821 . His
broad pendant is flying on board the Liffey of 50 guns.

•
THOMAS JAMES MALING, ESQ.

THIS officer, a son of the late Mr. Maling, of West Henning-
ton, co. Durham, was made a Commander Dec. 24, 1J98 ;
and obtained post rank Sept. 6, 1800. During the late war,
he commanded the Diana and Undaunted frigates, and Mul-
graveof74 guns; and among other vessels captured la Char-
lotte, a French ship privateer of 14 guns, pierced for 20, with
a complement of 118 men; and the San Josephe of 14 guns
and 96 men.

In 1817, a Chapel capable of containing about 500 persons,
and built at Captain Maling's expense, near Hylton Ferry,
in the county of Durham, was opened for divine service by
the Rector of Bishops wearmouth.

Captain Maling was appointed to the Northumberland of

• See Vol. I. p. G33. f See id. p. 634.

POST CAPTAINS OF 1800.

•

78 guns, lying in the Medway, July 31, 1821 ; and at pre-
sent commands the Cambridge 82, on the South American
station. He married, Dec. 2, 181 lj Harriet, youngest daugh-
ter of the late celebrated Dr. Darwin, of the Priory, near
Derby.

One of Captain Maling's sisters is the lady of Earl Mul-
grave ; another was married to Lieutenant- Col on el Jackson,
of the Guards, and died at Lisbon in 1813 ; a third to Colonel
Walsh, formerly a Commissioner of the Victualling Board;
and a fourth to Robert Ward, Esq., M. P. for Haslemere,

and Clerk of the Ordnance.

•

JOHN ACWORTH OMMANNEY, ESQ.

A Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Southampton; and a Justice of the
Peace for Surrey.

THIS officer is the eldest son of the late Rear- Admiral
Cornthwaite Ommanney*. He entered the naval service in
1/83, and during the ensuing eleven years, served successively
on board the Powerful 74 ; Rose frigate ; Leander 50 ; Aquir
Ion 28; Zebra sloop of war ; and Lion of 64 guns ; under the
respective commands of Captains Fitzherbert, and Henry
Harvey ; Rear-Admiral Peyton ; and Captains Robert Mon-
tagu, William Brown, and Sir Erasmus Gower. The latter
gentleman, of whom we have already "Spoken in our first vo-
lume, at p. 783, may justly be considered as his principal
naval patron.

In 1792, Sir Erasmus Gower, who had recommended him-
self to the notice of Earl Macartney, by his exploits in India
during the American war, was selected by that nobleman to
command the ship fitting for his conveyance to China. Sir

* Rear-Admiral Ommanney had seven Children, six of whom are now
living, viz. John Acworth, the subject of this memoir; Sir Francis Moly-
neux, a Navy Agent, and M. P. for Barnstaple ; Henry Manaton, a Post-
Captain ; Edward Symons, a Merchant at North Yarmouth ; Cornthwaite,
a Captain in the 24th Light Dragoons, now on half pay ; and Ann Symons,
who married, in 1815, Captain Pipon of the 7th Hussars. His other child,
Montagu, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, and died on service in
the West Indies, in 1?9G. The Rear-Admiral died in 1801, sincerely
lamented by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

304 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Erasmus entertaining a great friendship for Mr. Ommanney,
availed himself of so favourable an opportunity to promote
his interests by applying for and obtaining permission to ap-
point him a supernumerary Lieutenant of the Lion. This
accordingly took place on the arrival of the embassy at
Madeira. Shortly after their departure from Funchal, Lieu-
tenant Cox of that ship died, and Sir Erasmus appointed his
protege to succeed him. His commission was confirmed by
the Admiralty in May 1793.

The Lion being paid off on her return to England about
Sept. 1794, Mr. Ommanney readily accepted an offer made
him by Captain (now Sir Robert) Barlow to become his first
Lieutenant, in the Aquilon ; and he continued to serve with
that distinguished officer till May 1795, when he was ap-
pointed to the Queen Charlotte, a first rate ; in which ship
he assisted at the capture of three French 2-deckers off
1'Orient, on the 23d of the following month *.

Lieutenant Ommanney was promoted to the, rank of Com-
mander in Dec. 1796 ; and happening to be on half pay when
the mutiny broke out at the Nore, he lost no time in tender-
ing his services towards its suppression. His offer being
accepted, he held the command of a gun-vessel equipped to
act against the refractory seamen, until the spirit of rebellion
had subsided in that quarter j and was afterwards sent with two
other Captains to Deal, in order, should such a measure be
necessary, to take the command of some vessels lying in the
Downs, whose crews still behaved in a disrespectful manner to
their officers ; but happily the sailors there soon followed the
example of those at the Nore, and returned to their duty.

In Dec. 1797j Captain Ommanney was appointed to the
Busy, a new brig of 18 guns, fitting at Chatham for the
North Sea station, where he cruised with considerable activity.
In Aug. 1799, being off Goree, in company with the Speed-
well brig, he discovered a fleet of merchantmen running
alongshore under the convoy of a Swedish frigate. While the
Busy ran alongside the man of war and prepared for action,

* See note at p. 54 ; and Vol. I, p. 246.— N. B. Mr. Oramanney was
sent at the close of the action to assist Lieutenant Alexander Wilson, now
a superannuated Rear-Admiral, in conducting one of the prizes to an
English port.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 305

her consort searched one of the other vessels, and found that
she was laden with spars of sufficient size to make top-masts
for line-of-battle ships, and others with iron, &c. bound to
Brest, 1'Orient, and Cadiz. Upon receiving the report of
Lieutenant Reddie, who commanded the Speedwell, Captain
Ommanney wrote the following laconic letter on the Busy's
cap stern head, and immediately forwarded it to the Swedish
Commodore :

" H. B. M. Sloop Busy, at Sea, Aug. 8, 1/99.

" Sir. — The officer who has boarded one of the ships under your con-
voy has reported to me that she is bound to an enemy's port, and is laden
with naval stores. I shall therefore insist upon searching the whole of the
fleet, and shall detain all those vessels that have naval stores on board.
I remain, Sir, your humble servant,

(Signed) " JOHN A. OMMANNEY."

•" To the Captain of the Swedish frigate *."

This letter had no sooner been delivered, and the bearer
thereof returned to the Busy, than she stood towards the fleet,
and fired a shot athwart the bows of the nearest ship, to make
her shorten sail ; upon which the frigate hailed in token of
submission, and sent an officer to Captain Ommanney, with a
list of the convoy, and the Commodore's instructions, which
directed him not to suffer the vessels under his charge to be
searched at sea ; but in case of meeting with any 'British
cruiser, to proceed with her to an English port, for the pur-
pose of being examined. On his way to the Downs, Captain
Ommanney fell in with a squadron under the orders of the
present Vice-Admiral Lawford, who had been cruising off the
Flemish banks for a period of six weeks, in order to intercept
this very fleet.

Captain Ommanney being now relieved from his charge,
returned to his station off Goree, and some time afterwards
received a letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, inform-
ing him that the Lords Commissioners " very highly ap-
proved of his conduct" on the above occasion. He then
joined the expedition sent against the Helder f ; and on the
16th Sept. following, captured le Dragon, a French lugger
privateer of 16 guns. This vessel had for a length of time an-
noyed our trade in the North Sea ; and when discovered by

* She was commanded by Baron Oderstroom.
t See Vol. I, note at p. 414, et seq.

VOL. II. X

306 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

the Busy, was running along the Dutch coast on her return to
Dunkirk from the coast of Norway. After a short chase she
anchored in the midst of a very heavy surf, but by skill and
good management was soon brought out. Ten of her crew
being British subjects, endeavoured to land on the beach, but
only two succeeded ; the remainder perished.

In Jan. 1800, the Busy was ordered to the Leeward
Islands, and Captain Ornmanney received a letter from Earl
Spencer, who then presided at the Admiralty, recommending
him to Lord Hugh Seymour, the Commander-in- Chief on
that station, and expressing a wish that his Lordship might
soon have an opportunity of promoting him. In the course
of a few months, however, he became so much debilitated by
sickness, as to render it absolutely necessary to give up his
brig and return to England, where he arrived at the latter
end of September.

As a compensation for his loss of health, Earl Spencer,
who for kindness and liberality of conduct has never been
excelled, immediately gave Captain Ommanney a temporary
appointment to the Garland frigate at Plymouth, and a few
days after sent him a post commission dated Oct. 16, 1800.
During the last year of the war our officer commanded in
succession the Hussar frigate, Robust 74, and Barfleur of 98
guns, on Channel service : the latter ship, bearing the flag of
Rear- Admiral Collingwood, was paid off in May 1802. From
June 1804 till March 1806, he served as Flag-Captain to his
early friend Sir Erasmus Gower, on the Newfoundland station.

Captain Ommanney has been for several years an active
magistrate for the counties of Southampton and Surrey. He
married, in Oct. 1803, Frances, daughter of Richard Ayling,
of Slidham, co^ Sussex, Esq. and has issue four daughters.

Agent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney, M. P.

HENRY STUART, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1793 ; Commander
Oct. 7, 1799 ; and Post-Captain Oct. 16, 1800.
Agent. — Sir Francis M. Ommanney, M. P.

.11

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800. 307

ZACHARY MUDGE, ESQ.

THIS officer, a son of the late eminent Dr. Mudge of Ply-
mouth, co. Devon *, was made a Lieutenant about 1789 ;
and in that capacity accompanied Captain Vancouver to
Nootka Sound f, from whence he was despatched to India in
an open vessel, with a crew of only 14 men. In 1799, he
commanded the Fly sloop of war, and captured la Gleneur
French privateer of 6 guns and 32 men, off Portland.

During the ensuing year, the Fly was nearly lost on an
immense island of ice, near the banks of Newfoundland,
whilst on her passage from Halifax to England, with despatches
from H. R. H. the late Duke of Kent. She also captured le
Trompeur, a French cutter privateer, off la Hogue. Captain
Mudge's post commission bears date Nov. 15, 1800. His
next appointment was to la Constance of 24 guns.

In the spring of 1801, Captain Mudge received the thanks
of the British Consuls and Merchants at Lisbon and Oporto,
for the services he had rendered them, by convoying a fleet
from Falmouth to Portugal in safety, and for his'very great
activity in collecting some vessels at Viana, laden with brandy,
without which the wines could not have been got ready in
time to go home under his protection. About the same period
he captured £1 Dduides, a Spanish national cutter of 8 guns
and 69 men ; a lugger privateer of 2 guns and 27 men ; and a
brig laden with West Indian produce.

Having seen eighty-two vessels deeply laden with port
wine to their destination in safety, Captain Mudge again
sailed for Oporto, and on the 27th July, 1801, Cape Ortegal
bearing south four miles, he discovered a brig and a lugger
rounding the point, within a quarter of a mile of the shore.
Relying on the accuracy of the Spanish charts in his posses-
sion, he ran la Constance so close to the Firgu rocks, as to
oblige the strangers to pass through the inner channel, each
receiving a broadside as she passed. The Stork of 18 guns,
which had hove in sight to leeward, now stood into the bay,
and compelled the brig to run on shore directly under a high

* The Mudges are remarkable for their literary and scientific abilities,
f See p. 200.
x 2

308 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

cliff, from whence the militia of the country kept up a constant
though ill-directed fire on the British boats, commanded by
Lieutenant Stupart of la Constance, who gallantly pushed in
and hove her off without loss. She proved to be £1 Cantara,
Spanish privateer of 22 guns and 110 men : her consort,
mounting 10 guns, was also taken, as were two French brigs
laden with brandy, soon after.

Towards the latter end of the same year, Captain Mudge
conveyed General Count Viomenil and his suite from Ports-
mouth to Lisbon. On the 2/th March, 1802, the Active
frigate arrived in theTagus from Gibraltar, and passing Belem
castle, took up an anchorage which appeared to her com-
mander the best and safest in the river. This appears to
have offended the Portuguese, who, the same evening, seized
the bargemen of the British ships, whilst they were waiting
for their respective Captains at the usual landing place, and
without assigning any cause, lodged them in a subterraneous
cell belonging to the police guard. Upon Captain Mudge and
his brother officer demanding the liberation of their boats'
crews, they were themselves conducted to the main guard,
and shut up "in one of the commanding officer's apartments,
exposed to thejnsults of the soldiers. As soon as H, R. H.
the Duke of Sussex, who happened to be at Lisbon, was in-
formed of this transaction, he went in company with General
Fraser and Mr. Frere, to the proper authority, and demanded
their release ; but, notwithstanding all the zeal and diligence
of the Prince and his attendants, the two Captains were kept
in custody more than thirteen hours !

After Captain Mudge's return to England, we find him em-
ployed conveying a number of disbanded foreign soldiers from
Lymington to the Elbe. He was appointed to the Blanche
Trigate.about Oct. 1802.

At the close of 1803, the Blanche was attached to a squa-
dron under Captain Loring of the Bellerophon, employed in
the blockade of St. Domingo ; on which station she captured
and destroyed twenty-four of the enemy's vessels in less than
a month, thereby completely checking the intercourse be-
tween the different ports of the island *. During the ensuing

• We shall have occasion hereafter to enter into the particulars of more
/than one gallant exploit performed by the Blanche's boats at this period.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 309

eighteen months, she cruised with great activity, and among
other prizes, took two French national vessels of 14 guns
each ; a Dutch schooner of 4 guns j another laden with hoi-
lands ; a Spanish sloop, with a cargo of horses and Nicara-
gua wood ; and two French privateers.

Captain Mudge was now doomed to experience a sad re-
verse of fortune. On the 19th July, 1805, the Blanche, being
in lat. 20° 20' N., long. 6G° 44* W. fell in with a French
squadron, consisting of la Topaze frigate of 44 guns and 410
men ; one ship of 22 guns and 236 men ; a corvette of 18
guns and 213 men ; and a brig of 16 guns and 123 men. To*
escape by sailing was out of the question, the greater
part of the copper having been off her bottom nearly nine
months. Captain Mudge, therefore, made every disposition
for action, which began at 11 A. M., and lasted about forty-
five minutes ; the frigates constantly within hail of each
other, running large under easy sail ; the 22-gun ship on the
Blanche's starboard quarter, and the other vessels close astern
of her. The British frigate had by this time become un-
governable, her sails being totally destroyed, and her rigging
cut to pieces ; she had also seven guns dismounted, six feet
water in the hold, her fore and main-masts disabled by the
enemy's shot, 8 men killed and 15 wounded. Thus situ-
ated, Captain Mudge and his officers considered further re-
sistance unavailing, and at noon the colours were struck.

The Blanche was not destined to wear French colours. At
6 P. M., the officers who had taken possession, reported her
to be sinking, and she was consequently set on fire ; but the
magazine having been long drowned, no explosion took place.
She burnt to the water's edge and then sunk *.

On the 14th Oct. in the same year, Captain Mudge was
tried by a court-martial at Plymouth, for the loss of his ship,
and honorably acquitted of all blame. The President, Rear-
Admiral John Sutton, on returning his sword, addressed him
in the following words :

" I feel the greatest satisfaction and pleasure in the discharge of this

* The Blanche mounted 44 guns, and went into action with only 215
men. The enemy's squadron, as will be seen above, carried altogether
100 guns and 982 men ; of whom 132 were soldiers belonging to the Legion,
du Midi. Their exact loss we have not been able to ascertain-

310 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1800.

part of my duty, having to convey to you the just sentiments \vhich the
members of this Court entertain of your very able and gallant conduct in
the defence made by you of his Majesty's late ship the Blanche, against a
very superior force of the enemy's ships ; and likewise of the spirited sup-
port afforded you by the officers of every description, as well as the seamen
and royal marines, under your command, in the discharge of their duty ;
and which reflects upon you and them the highest degree of merit and
approbation."

Captain Mudge subsequently commanded the Phoenix
frigate, stationed in the Channel. On the 29th Jan. 1810,
the boats of that ship, in company with those of the Jalouse
sloop, gallantly boarded and captured le Charles French brig
privateer of 14 guns and 90 men. The Phoenix on this oc-
casion had 1 man killed and another wounded.

Our officer's sister, Elizabeth, married Sir Richard Fletcher,
Bart., a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Engineers, who fell
in action before St. Sebastian, in Aug. 1813. His brother,
Colonel Mudge of the Royal Artillery, and F. R, S., was the
author of " An Account of the Operations for accomplishing
the Trigonometrical Survey of England and Wales, 3 vols.
4to. 1799—1811."

Agent. — Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

GEORGE WOLFE, ESQ.

4. Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

THIS officer was born Aug. 3, 1/66, and had the misfor-
tune to lose his father when only eight years of age. His
mother (a daughter of Colonel Sharpless, who served with
credit under Charles, second l)uke of Marlborough), after
repeated attempts to divert him from his early intentions of
becoming a sailor, at length yielded to the persuasions of the
late Lady Spencer, under whose patronage he entered the
naval service as a Midshipman on board the Ocean of 90
guns, commanded by Captain George Ourry, April 2, 1780*.

• So determined was the subject of this memoir to go to sea, that he
twice decamped from his maternal residence for that purpose. The first
time he succeeded in reaching the metropolis, and getting on board an In-
diaman ; but to his great disappointment, was delivered up to his mother
and brother on the morning after his entry. His second trip from North-
amptonshire towards London, was interrupted by an unexpected meeting

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 311

The Ocean formed part of the Channel fleet under Admiral
Geary, at the capture of twelve French West Indiamen, va~
lued at91,000/., July 3, 1/80. She was likewise present at
the relief of Gibraltar, by Vice- Admiral Darby ; and the cap-
ture of fifteen transports, laden with military stores and full
of troops, in 1/81 ; as also at the capture of twelve others,
April 20, 1782 *.

Mr. Wolfe continued in the Ocean, which ship was suc-
cessively commanded by Captains Ourry, Edgar, Cleland, and
Phipps, till May 1/82, when he was removed into the Royal
George, a first rate, bearing the flag of Rear- Admiral Kemp-
enfelt, in the Channel fleet. Fortunately for him he escaped
sharing the fate of many of his former messmates, who were
lost in that noble vessel at Spithead, by following Captain
Phipps into the Berwick of 74 guns. This may with pro-
priety be termed the third miraculous escape he had expe-
rienced in less than two years and a half, from the commence-
ment of his professional career f.

The Berwick accompanied Earl Howe to the relief of Gib-
raltar, in 1782 5 and bore a part in the subsequent action with
the combined fleets off Cape Spartel, on which occasion Mr.
Wolfe was wounded in the face and neck. During the re-
mainder of the war, we find her stationed in the West Indies,
under the orders of Admiral Pigot. She was put out of com-
mission June 30, 1783. •

with some friends of the family, by whom he was compelled to return
home, after trudging twenty-two miles on foot in pursuit of his favorite

object.

* See Vol. I. p. 4, note J at p. 33, pp. 58, and 15.

t During the whiter of 1780, while the Ocean was lying with the grand
fleet in Torbay, her launch was sent to Torquay for water j and Mr.
Wolfe having been engaged to dine with the father of his messmate, Mr.
Broderick Hartwell, was descending the side for the purpose of going on
shore by her, when the boat-rope broke, and caused him to be left behind.
On her return, the launch unfortunately sunk, and a Lieutenant, 2 Midship-
men, one of whom was Mr. Hartwell, and 19 seamen perished.

Soon after this melancholy catastrophe, the Ocean and several other
ships struck the ground in Torbay, unshipped their rudders, and were
under the necessity of proceeding to Portsmouth to repair their damages.
Early in 1781, Mr. Wolfe fell overboard whilst playing about the Ocean's
hulk in a small boat, and was carried by the tide to the mouth of the har-
bour, before he could be rescued from his perilous situation.

312 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

During the ensuing peace, Mr. Wolfe served in the various
ships commanded by Captains Herbert Sawyer, Charles
Chamberlayne, Robert Fanshawe, Charles M. Pole, J. Smith,
and Thomas Hicks.

In 1790, an explosion accidentally took place on board the
Orion 74, Captain Chamberlayne, then at anchor in Carlisle
Bay, Barbadoes. Mr. Wolfe was at that time confined to his
bed by a fever, which had already carried off 23 men, and to
which the Surgeon, who was an atheist, predicted he would
also fall a victim in less than twenty-four hours. So great
was the alarm among the crew, that many of the people
jumped through the ports and were drowned. During the
confusion, Mr. Wolfe's cot was broken down, and as he lay
on the deck, his ears were assailed by the dreadful cries of
some who were drowning, and others in distress. Not relish-
ing the idea of being burnt alive, he contrived to pull on his
trowsers and crawl to the gun-room ports, where he saw the
Surgeon hanging by the rudder chains, kicking and screaming
most furiously, and holding out his purse as an inducement
for a boat that had been sent to the Orion's assistance, to
come and save him from being devoured by the sharks : so
much for the carelessness about futurity, of a person who
denied the existence of a God, and attributed " surrounding
nature and all its astonishing phoenomena to chance, or a for-
tuitous concourse of atoms *." Strengthened in an extraor-
dinary manner by the fright to which he had been subjected,
Mr. Wolfe managed to hand the poor wretch a rope's end,
by which he was enabled once more to obtain a firm footing
on the Orion's deck, and observe the recovery of his patient ;
the preservation of whose life may reasonably be attributed
to his dormant pulse being suddenly roused into action by
the terror excited in his breast, on hearing the appalling cry
of " fire," and witnessing the despair of his shipmates.

At the commencement of the French revolutionary war,
Mr. Wolfe, who had passed his examination upwards of four
years, joined the Windsor Castle, a second rate, bearing the
flag of Rear-Admiral Cosby, with whom he soon after sailed

* See an account of the sect calling themselves atheists, in Evans's Sketch
of all Religions, p. 2, et seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 313

for the Mediterranean station. During the occupation of
Toulon by the allied forces, he served as a volunteer in se-
veral land and floating batteries, and was consequently often
engaged with the enemy. After the evacuation of that place,
and while the fleet was lying among the Hieres islands, an
hospital ship parted her cable, and drifted into a small bay,
where she was completely commanded by the republicans.
The boats of the fleet were immediately sent to take out her
wounded and sick inmates ; but owing to the sharp fire kept
up by the enemy from behind a breastwork, as they approach-
ed, the Windsor Castle's launch, commanded by Mr. Richard
Hawkins, a Midshipman, was the only boat that succeeded
in boarding her. On this occasion, one of the launch's
crew was killed, but 12 wounded soldiers were rescued.

It being determined to renew the attempt, an order was
issued for all the boats to assemble alongside a frigate, sent
in shore to cover them in their approach. The Windsor
Castle's launch was this time commanded by Mr. Wolfe, who
volunteered his services, and was fortunate enough to bring
off 13 more of the wounded men. He was soon followed by
a boat manned with French royalists, who behaved most
nobly, and the vessel was at length finally cleared, and after-
wards set on fire by Lieutenant Thomas George Shortland,
of the Nemesis. In the execution of this hazardous service,
Mr. Wolfe was very much hurt by a soldier in a heavy wooden
cradle falling from the gunwale of the hospital ship into the
launch, striking him on his head, and bending him backwards
with such violence, as to cause the blood to gush from every
aperture in his head and body. In consequence of this acci-
dent, he was confined to his hammock for the space of two
months ; a circumstance, which however painful in itself, was
by no means so mortifying to him as that of seeing the Lieu-
tenant who had been sent from the Victory to command the
boats promoted to the rank of Commander, whilst his own
conduct and sufferings passed unrewarded.

Subsequent to his recovery, Mr. Wolfe served on shore,
under Captains Serecold, Miller, and Cooke, at the reduction
of Corsica. By the latter officer he was introduced to Lord
Hood, who received him very kindly, and ordered him to be

314 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

removed to the Victory ; in which ship he returned to England
as Master's Mate, towards the close of 1794.

On his arrival at Portsmouth, Mr. Wolfe was advanced to
the rank of Lieutenant in the Phaeton frigate, commanded by
the Hon. Robert Stopford, with whom he continued about
two years and nine months *. In Sept. 1797j he was made
a Commander, and appointed to the Sally armed ship, on the
North Sea station.

Soon after this promotion, Captain Wolfe being on a cruise
off the Yorkshire coast, in a very thick fog, suddenly found
himself close to a French ship, which afterwards proved to be le
Republicain of 36 guns and 360 men. The Sally, originally a
collier, mounted 14 old fashioned carronades (24-pounders),and
had a complement of 45 men. Onthefogbeginning to disperse,
the enemy, then within pistol-shot, was observed lowering a
boat to take possession of his expected prize, whose starboard
guns, loaded with two rounds of grape-shot, were instanta-
neously discharged into the French frigate, and with such
effect as to bring down her jib and spanker, which afforded
Captain Wolfe an opportunity of putting about and effecting
his escape : the confusion on board le Republicain, occasioned
by this unexpected salute, being so great, that by the time she
had wore and come to the wind on the other tack, the Sally
was at least a mile on her weather bow. Captain Wolfe's-
conduct on this occasion was highly approved by the Admi-
ralty. »

The Sally was afterwards employed affording protection to
the Baltic and Hamburgh trade ; and in the course of the two
following years, captured several Dutch vessels, two of which
were Greenlandmen f.

• The Phaeton was one of the squadron that escorted the Princess Caro-
line of Brunswick from Cuxhaven to England, in April 1795. She after-
wards resumed her station in the Channel ; and among other services, des-
troyed I'Echoue" of 28 guns j captured la Bonne Citoyenne of 20 guns ;
three large privateers, and a number of merchant vessels j and assisted at
the capture of two French frigates, one mounting 36, the other 30 guns.
She also formed part of the squadron under Vice-Admiral Cormvallis,
during his masterly retreat ; an account of which will be found in Vol. I.
note *, at p. 354.

t The Cruiser, Captain Charles Wollaston, was in company at thi*
latter capture.

POST- CAPTAINS OF 1800. 315

Captain Wolfe obtained pest rank Dec. 10, 1800 ; and was
appointed to the Galatea of 32 guns in April 1801. During
the ensuing peace, we find him employed conveying troops
from Guernsey and different ports in England, to Holland.
His next appointment was Dec. 24, 1802, to the Aigle fri-
gate, then recently launched; and in March following he
received orders to repair to Portland, for the purpose of im-
pressing seamen, and raising volunteers for the navy. On
his arrival he communicated with the Mayor of Weymouth,
and found that the sailors belonging to that neighbourhood
had placed themselves under the protection of the stone quarry
men, who soon proceeded to acts of violence against his own
people, who after being severely handled, were obliged to re-
treat from the quay to their boats. Confiding in the pro-
mise of the Mayor, who had agreed to furnish a sufficient
number of constables to assist him and preserve order, Cap-
tain Wolfe landed, at 4 P. M. on the 1st April, at the head of
50 seamen and marines, but had scarcely got on shore before
his party were fired on by a number of sailors collected on
the beach; A scuffle now ensued, and two of the rioters,
named Porter and Wey, were secured, the one armed with a
poker, the other with a reap-hook. The remainder of the
mob retiring towards the Bill of Portland, were soon re-in-
forced by nearly 300 men, armed with muskets, pistols, and
cutlasses, which had been plundered from the transports
wrecked on that coast in 1/95 *. This formidable body,
urged on by two constables, lost no time in attacking their
unwelcome visitors, 16 or 17 of whom were dreadfully wound-
ed. At length, after the most patient forbearance on the part
of Captain Wolfe, who was himself seized and cruelly treat-
ed, the marines opened their fire, killed 4 of the rioters, and
obliged the remainder to retreat j which they did with so
much precipitation, that only 3 could be secured f.

As soon as the Aigle's wounded men reached their ship,
Captain Wolfe despatched a Lieutenant, (the present Earl of

* See Vol. I. note f, at p. 89.

f John Manning, a quarter-master belonging to the Aigle, bad his cut-
lass broken whilst warding off a blow aimed at his Captain's head. Nine
of the wounded men were discharged from the service, in consequence of
the injuries they received.

316 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

Huntingdon) to lay a correct account of this unfortunate af-
fair before the Admiralty, and prevent the misrepresentations
with which public opinion is usually abused in like cases j
but on his landing at Weymouth, that officer and Mr. Morgan,
a Midshipman, were recognized by the mob, who seized them,
and compelled the Mayor, by threatening worse consequences,
to commit them to Dorchester gaol for the alleged murder of
the unhappy men who had fallen the victims of their own
disloyal conduct.

The Coroner having returned a verdict of wilful murder
against Captain Wolfe, Lieutenant Francis Hastings, Lieute-
nant Jefferies of the marines, and Mr. John Fortescue Morgan,
the Midshipman, those gentlemen surrendered themselves for
trial at the ensuing summer assizes, and after a full investiga-
tion of their conduct were fully acquitted, the jury agreeing
that they had merely acted in self defence *.

* The following circumstances connected with, this unfortunate affray,
will serve to shew how deeply the principle of self-love is implanted in the
heart of man. The Coroner, an attorney, finding that another limb of the
law was engaged to draw up the affidavits of those officers against whom
he had returned a verdict of murder, went on board the Aigle and begged
Captain Wolfe to employ him ; stating, at the same time, that the verdict
was given in consequence of his dreading the resentment of the populace,
had he acted more leniently. A surgeon of the same town, having an eye
to numler one, also waited upon Captain Wolfe, and solicited him to en-
trust the Aigle's wounded men to his care ; stating that he had had the charge
of all the sick men belonging to the navy who had come into Portland road
during the late war, and if Captain Wolfe would comply with his request,
he should be able to obtain a renewal of the former contract. On the
morning of the trial, this disciple of ^Esculapius made his appearance in
court, and stated that a young girl who had received a wound in the late
tumult, declared to him before her death, that Captain Wolfe was the per-
son who had shot her. We do not pretend to divine by what motives he
was actuated; but this we know, that the grand jury rejected his evidence
in toto.

The unfortunate girl alluded to was a sister of one of the impressed men,
James Wey, by whom Captain Wolfe was first apprised of her being
wounded. Two days after the riot, her father, by his dismal account of
her sufferings, prevailed on Captain Wolfe to liberate his son, whom he
<lescribed as the only support of himself and family. About a week after,
the old man, who had previously received two guineas from Captain Wolfe
to procure necessaries for the girl, wrote a distressing letter, begging him
to forward five pounds to pay the surgeon's bill. On the latter being asked

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800. 3I/

In the interim, between the holding of the coroner's inquest
and his trial, Captain Wolfe went on a cruise, and was fortu-
nate enough to intercept six homeward bound French West
Indiamen. Towards the latter end of the same year, he cap-
tured, after a long chase, 1' Alert privateer of 16 guns and 90
men.

On the 12th July, 1804, the Aigle fell in with two French
corvettes, proceeding from Rochefort to Bayonne, with ord-
nance and stores for a ship of war just launched at that port.
These vessels, at first, seemed resolved to try their strength
with the British frigate ; but on her near approach, fired a
single broadside, and ran on shore about ten leagues to the
southward of Cordouan. Every effort was made by Captain
Wolfe, during the ensuing night and part of the next day, to
get them afloat again, but without effect ; and he was at length
obliged to destroy them by fire. They proved to be la Cha-
rante of twenty 6-pounders, 4 swivels, and 104 men ; and la
Joie of eight 12-pounders (pierced for 14 guns), 2 swivels,
and 75 men. The greater part of their crews escaped to the
shore ; several were drowned by the swamping of the boats,
owing to the heavy surf on the beach ; and the remainder,
amounting to 26 officers and men, were taken prisoners.

In Sept. 1805, Captain Wolfe, being off Vigo, was attacked
during a calm, by nine Spanish gun -boats. After an hour's
cannonade^ a breeze sprung up, and enabled him to capture
the Commodore's vessel, sink another, and drive the rest on
shore. The prize carried a long 24-pounder, and 29 men,
4 of whom belonged to the artillery.

From this period, we find no particular mention of Captain
Wolfe till March 1808 ; in the course of which month, he
discovered two French frigates pushing for 1'Orient, under a
press of sail. The Aigle, at this time cruising near the
Glenan islands, immediately went in pursuit, passing between
Isle Groais and the main ; and after sustaining a heavy fire

why he had not informed Captain Wolfe what Mary Wey had said, when
he solicited the care of the Aigle's men, which was several days after she
had been wounded, he replied, that she did not make the declaration till
three weeks after. We should here state, though not without cautioning1
the young officer against acting precipitately in such a case, that the Court
acquainted Captain Wolfe he had done wrong in communicating with the
Mayor of Weymouth, when acting under an order from the King in Council.

318 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.

from the land batteries on both sides, compelled one of the
enemy's ships to take shelter under a fort on the S. E. side
of the island. The other, la Furieuse of 40 guns, was soon
after brought to close action, and ultimately obliged to run
ashore on Point du Chat. The Aigle, in this dashing affair,
had three guns split and dismounted, a bower anchor cut in
two, her masts and yards much damaged, and 22 officers and
men wounded : among the former we find the names of Cap-
tain Wolfe and Lieutenant Lamb. She subsequently cap-
tured, after a long chase, les Six Freres of 18 guns, from
Bourdeaux bound to the Mauritius.

The Aigle formed part of the detachment sent from Lord
Gambier's fleet to attack a French squadron in Aix Roads,
April 12, 1809 ; and on that occasion was the second ship
which opened her fire on the enemy. After assisting at the
destruction of four 2-deckers, Captain Wolfe relieved Lord
Cochrane in the command of the advanced squadron, consist-
ing of a bomb, several gun-brigs, and other small vessels ;
Obliged the enemy to burn a frigate which had got on shore
in the Charante, and the remainder of their ships to retreat
up that river, after throwing overboard all their guns and
stores. On this anxious and fatiguing service, he continued
as long as there existed a possibility of annoying and harras-
sing the fugitives ; the Aigle preserving her station above
the Boyart shoal, although much exposed to an attack from
the French gun-boats, for a period of fifteen days, during
which Captain Wolfe was never once in bed.

On the llth Aug. following, the Aigle had 1 man killed
and 4 dreadfully wounded, by the explosion of an 18-inch
shell, which fell on board her when forcing the passage of the
Scheldt, in company with a squadron of frigates, under the
orders of Lord William Stuart *.

In Sept. 1810, Captain Wolfe being on a cruise off the
Western islands, fell in with, and after a chase of one hun-
dred and thirty-four miles, in thirteen hours, captured le
Phoenix French privateer, mounting eighteen 18-pounders,

* The shell passed through the bulwark, quarter, main, and lower-
decks, to the bread room, where it burst. The splinters, in their ascent
through the decks, occasioned the loss we have stated-

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1801. 319

with a complement of 129 men, commanded by M. Jacques
Perrond, a Lieutenant in the French navy, and a Member of
the Legion of Honor *. In addition to the foregoing services,
he appears to have taken, at different times during the war,
two Prussian, three Danish, one American, one Russian, and
upwards of one hundred and fifty French vessels ; the lat-
ter principally coasters of from 10 to 100 tons. He was no-
minated a C. B. in 1815.

HENRY HILL, ESQ.

THIS officer is a son of the late Colonel Hill, of St. Boni-
face, in the Isle of Wight, who served during the German
war as aid-de-camp to Count de Lipp.

He entered the naval service in 1787, as a Midshipman on
board the Vestal of 28 guns, commanded by Sir Richard
John Strachan, with whom he removed into the Phoenix fri-
gate, on the East India station ; where he was engaged in a
variety of service, particularly that of transporting the batter-
ing train, &c., belonging to the Malabar army, up the Bally-
patam river, to the foot of the Ghauts ; and in the action with

la Resolu French frigate, Nov. 19, 1791 f. On one occasion,

ii.

* Mr. Perrond was a most experienced and scientific officer. He had
previously commanded the Bellona privateer upwards of nine years in the
East Indies, where he committed great depredations on our commerce.
Le Phoenix was a beautiful ship, built in imitation of the Bellona. She
tried the Aigle on every point of sailing; and had there been less wind,
would most likely have escaped from her, as she had before done from
four other cruisers. The capture of so fine a vessel may justly be deemed
a service of importance.

t See Vol. I. pp. 284 and 285. N. B. Since the publication of our first
volume, we have received the following remarks on the action between
the Phoenix and Resolu, from an old and intelligent Post-Captain : " A
correspondence had been carried on for some time between Commodore
Cornwallis and the French Captain, respecting the right of searching mer-
chant vsssels ; and the latter, in order to try whether the threats of the
English Commodore would be put in force, got under way from Mahe*
roads with two merchant ships under his convoy, and passed close to the
British squadron of three frigates in Tellicherry roads. The Phoenix and
Perseverance were both ordered by signal to ' examine the strange sails
passing near,' and both in consequence weighed and went in chase ; both

. /

320 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.

whilst employed in a boat at the mouth of the above river,
he was upset in a heavy surf, but preserved himself by supe-
rior swimming : his companion, a Mr. Robinson, and most
of the boat's crew, unfortunately perished.

The Phoenix returned to England in 1793 ; and Mr. II ill
was soon after removed into the Boyne, a second rate, bear-
ing the flag of Sir John Jervis, under whose auspices he first
went to sea, and by whom he was almost immediately pro-
moted to tbe rank of Lieutenant, in the Zebra sloop of war,
commanded by Captain Robert Faulknor, and forming part
of the fleet sent to reduce the French West India colonies.

The services of the Zebra during the campaign of 1794,
were very conspicuous, and are too well known to require
repetition. It is therefore unnecessary to say more, than
that Lieutenant Hill was on all occasions the constant
associate of his gallant commander, both on shore and
afloat *.

The Rev. Cooper Willyams, from whose work we have
already made one or two extracts, thus relates a melan-
choly accident, which occurred in one of the land batteries,
during the siege of Fort Louis :

" Captain Faulknor of the Zebra, who commanded in the battery, being
provoked by the interference of an artillery officer, and one of the seamen
not obeying him with alacrity, was provoked to strike him with his sword ;
which unfortunately wounded him mortally, and he died in a few minutes.
Captain Faulknor was acquitted by the court-martial that was instantly
summoned to investigate the matter ; and the circumstance of its happen-
ing in the heat of action, when the least disobedience of orders involves
the most fatal consequences, as well as that it appeared there was no pre-
meditated intention of killing the unfortunate man, but was a blow given
from the impulse of momentary passion, the sentence was confirmed and
approved."

On this sad occasion, Lieutenant Hill, then at Point Negro

got up with the French together, and both were concerned in the action
with la Resolu, a 12-pounder frigate, though she only fired at the Pho3-
nix." — It will be remembered by our readers, that the Hon. East India
Company was at this time engaged in a war with Tippoo Saib, which
ended only with his life, and the destruction of Seringapatam, the capital
of his dominions ; and as the French and Dutch were known to be favorable
to that chieftain, and suspected of supplying him with warlike stores, it
became the duty of our naval commanders to watch them very narrowly.
* See Vol. I. note at p. 859.

POST-CAPTAINS OP 1801. 321

camp, received the following letter from Captain Faulknor.
We insert it for the purpose of shewing how much that offi-
cer lamented the rash act which he had committed :

" Zebra, March 14, 1794.

" Sir, — My unfortunate rashness and impetuosity in giving a wound to
a poor seaman, on service with me at the new battery, has occasioned a
court-martial to he held on my conduct to-morrow at 8 o'clock ; and
whatever the result may be, and one sentence only I can apprehend, be-
lieve me I shall care infinitely less for my own fate, than that of being ac-
cessary to the death of any human being, not the natural enemy of myself
or of my country. The insolent contempt and provocation from the unfor-
tunate man was great, and such as would have condemned him to death,
had I brought him to trial ; but the hasty and sudden punishment I un-
happily inflicted on the spot, will be a source of lasting affliction to my
mind. Mr. Fahie * and Mr. White will accompany me to the court-mar-
tial ; and have done themselves honor by their sympathy and feeling.
May I venture to ask your attendance with them ; and to hope whatever
difference may have arisen between us on service before, may at a period
like the present be buried in oblivion. My heart is incapable of malice or
ill-will ; and a temper hasty and ungovernable, previous to this unfortunate
moment, has been the only unhappiness of my life ! I propose sending for
twelve, if not all the people under your command on shore ; as I can
hardly doubt but they will give their testimony of my character as a man
and an officer of humanity ; it appears to me, on an occasion of this nature,
to be the best jury I can summon. Brigadier Rogers, I have no doubt, on
your application, will give permission for yourself and them to embark.
I remain, Dear Sir, with every sentiment of regard,

" Your most faithful Servant,

(Signed) tc ROBERT FAULKNOR."

That this appeal to Lieutenant Hill's feelings, whatever
might have been the nature of any previous misunderstanding
between his commander and himself, was not made in vain,
appears by the following communication :

" Dear Sir, — I am sensibly obliged by your note, and the sympathy
contained in it. It would be a satisfaction to me to have the whole of the
people on shore with you, officers and all, to attend me at the court-mar-
tial. If that be impossible, I must beg you will send any twelve who are
willing to come on the occasion, &c. &c.

(Signed) " ROBERT FAULKNOR."

After the reduction of Martinique, St. Lucia, &c., the
Zebra was sent to the coast of America in company with a
squadron of frigates, under the orders of Commodore Josias

* Mr. Fahie (now a Rear- Admiral), was at that time first Lieutenant of
the Zebra.

VOL. II. Y

322 POST-CAPTAINS OF J801.

Rogers \ but returned from thence to the West Indies at the
latter end of the same year, and subsequently cruised with
considerable success against the enemy's privateers, several
of which she captured and destroyed *.

In March 1J95, the French having disembarked on the
island of St. Vincent, excited the Caribs to revolt, and mas-
sacre many of the white inhabitants ; by which means nearly
the whole colony fell into the possession of the insurgents.
Upon receiving intelligence to this effect, Captain Skynner
lost no time in leaving his cruising ground and proceeding to
Kingston Bay, where Lieutenant Hill was landed on the 12th,
with a party of seamen and a 6-pounder, to co-operate with
the British land forces then on the island. Aft this moment the
enemy were in possession of Dorchester hill, a commanding
eminence immediately above the town of Kingston, which
they were preparing to cannonade. The post taken by Lieu-
tenant Hill becoming untenable, he suggested to the Governor
and Captain Skynner the necessity of driving the enemy
from their position. His plan being adopted, as many sea-
men as could be collected from the vessels in the bay were
landed on the evening of the 14th ; and Captain Skynner
having assumed the command of the whole, arrangements
were forthwith made for carrying it into effect. At midnight
this gallant little band moved on to the attack, preceded by
Lieutenant Hill, and with such regularity that their approach
was not discovered until they were within a few yards of. the
enemy's post. A brisk fire of musketry now did much exe-
cution among them j but the tars, who under Faulknor had
stormed Fort Royal, were not to be daunted : rushing forward
with impetuosity, they drove the Caribs from all points,
and entirely off the hill, with the loss of Chatowee, their chief,
who fought with great personal bravery and determination.
In this brilliant affair, Lieutenant Hill received a very severe
wound in the right shoulder, which obliged him to retire to his
ship immediately after the occupation of Dorchester hill, and
subsequently to return home. Previous to his departure
from St. Vincent's, he received the thanks of the Governor

* Captain Faulknor having previously been posted, the Zebra was now
commanded by Captain Skynner.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 323

and House of Assembly, together with the most marked at-
tention, and expressions of gratitude from all classes of the
inhabitants. Soon after his arrival in England, he received
the following letter from Drewry Ottley, Esq., second in
Council of the above island :

" Dear Sir. — It is with great; pleasure that I hear of your safe arrival at
the Isle of Wight, where I make no doubt but that by the attention of
your friends, the skill of your surgeons, and your own good constitution
and high spirits, you will be soon restored to health, and enabled once
more to engage in the service of your country. I made a point as soon as
I arrived in London, to write to Lord Spencer about you, and to explain
to him the obligations which our colony felt for your gallant and spirited
behaviour. I shewed him also a copy of our vote of thanks. He ex-
pressed himself much pleased with what you had done, and promised to
take an early opportunity of rewarding your services. I am, dear Sir,
" Your faithful and obedient Servant,

(Sigried) " DREWRY OTTLEY."

Lieutenant Hill was advanced to the rank of Commander,
July 24, 1795 ; and in Feb. 1797, had the honor of being
coupled with Captain Skynner, in a letter of thanks from the
Agents for the colony of St. Vincent. His' sufferings in con-
sequence of his wound were long and severe ; nor do we find
him again in employ till the spring of 1798, when he was ap-
pointed to the Sea Fencibles in the Isle of Wight. He after-
wards commanded the Gorgon, a 44-gun ship, armed en flute,
on the Mediterranean station ; and Megaera fire-vessel, "at-
tached to the Channel fleet. His post commission bears date
Jan. 1, 1801.

Captain Hill's subsequent appointments were, in succes-
sion, to the Princess Royal of 98 guns ; Ruby 64; Camilla
24 ; Orpheus 32 ; Agincourt 64 ; and Naiad, a 38-gun fri-
gate.

In April 1805, Captain Hill worked the Orpheus out of the
Tagus during a gale of wind, to the astonishment of the most
experienced pilots, and succeeded in conveying and forward-
ing intelligence of the French and Spanish fleets having formed
a junction at Cadiz, to our squadrons off Ferrol, Brest, and
Ireland. Previous to, and after that event, he was principally
employed affording protection to the trade.

In March, 1810, eight petty officers and seamen belonging
to the Naiad, were tried by a court-martial at Plymouth,
on charges of which the following is the substance, viz :

324 POST-CAFFAINS OF 1801.

" First, for making, or attempting to make, a mutinous assembly, for thff
purpose of inducing the ship's company to desire to be drafted ; second,
for knowing of such assemblies without acquainting their captain ; third,
for having endeavoured to excite the ship's company to mutiny ; and
lastly, for having written, or caused to be written, an anonymous letter to
the Secretary of the Admiralty, wherein they stated their full determina-
tion not to go to sea under the command of Captain Hill."

The charges being all proved, with the exception of the
last, three of the prisoners were sentenced to death, and the
remainder to be flogged round the fleet. The condemned men
were afterwards reprieved, and we believe the greater part, if not
the whole of the others, were pardoned. In the following year,
Captain Hill left the Naiad, having arrived at that standing
on the list which precluded his continuing any longer in the
command of a frigate. He has not since been afloat.

Our officer married, first, Anne, a daughter of the late Rev.
James Worsley, of Gatcombe, in the Isle of Wight ; and se-
condly, Caroline, a daughter of the late Joseph Bettesworth,
of Ryde, in the same island, Esq. By these marriages, he has
six sons and four daughters. His brother, Lieutenant-Co-
lonel Charles Fitzmaurice Hill, commanded the 10th regi-
ment of foot, and died in 1811. Another brother, the Rev.
Jutley Hill, is Rector of Tinge wick, Bucks, and of Bonchurch
and Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

JOHN MASON LEWIS, ESQ.

Resident Commissioner of the Navy at Malta.
THIS officer was educated at the maritime school, Chelsea ;
received his first commission in 1790 ; served as a Lieutenant
on board the Queen of 98 guns, in Earl Howe's action, June
1, 1794 ; commanded the Snake sloop of war, and assisted
at the capture of 1'Hirondelle, a French privateer of 14 guns
and 50 men, Nov. 10, 1799 ; and obtained post rank, Jan. 1,
1801. During the last thirteen or fourteen years he has re-
sided as Commissioner, successively at Antigua, Bermuda,
and Malta.

.— -Thomas Stilwell, Esq.

POST-CAFF AINS OP 1801. 325

CHARLES WOLLASTON, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1790 ; and obtained
post rank Jan. 1, 1801. He had previously commanded the
Cruiser of 18 guns on the North Sea station, where he cap-
tured six French privateers, carrying in the whole 68 guns
and 282 men. At the renewal of the war in 1803, he was ap-
pointed to a command in the Sea Fencible service, between
Blackwater and the Stour.

Agent. — Sir F. M. Ommanney, M. P.

ALEXANDER WILMOT SCHOMBERG, ESQ.

THIS officer was made a Lieutenant in 1793 j and obtained
post rank Jan. 1, 1801.

Agent. — William Marsh, Esq.

EDWARD DURNFORD KING, ESQ.

THIS officer is a son of the late William King, of South-
ampton, Esq., and a brother of Captain Andrew King, R. N.
He first went to sea in the Director of 64 guns, commanded
by Captain Thomas West, in June 1789 ; and from that pe-
riod served in various ships till 1794, when he was promoted
to the rank of Lieutenant, for his good conduct as a Midship-
man on board the Barfleur, a second rate, bearing the flag of
Rear-Adiniral Bowyer, in the memorable actions between
Earl Howe and M. Villaret de Joyeuse, an account of which
will be found in our first volume.

After serving for some time with the present Sir Edward
Thornbrough, in the Robust 74, Mr. King joined the Dryad
of 44 guns and 25 1 men : and he was the senior Lieutenant
of that ship when she captured, after a spirited action, la
Proserpine, a French frigate of 42 guns and 348 men. His
behaviour on that occasion procured him the official commen-
dations of his Captain, Lord Amelius Beauclerk, and he was
in consequence advanced to the rank of Commander*, but we

- * Mr. James, in his Naval History, makes the following observations on
the action between the Dryad and Proserpine • " Were it not for the pre-

326 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.

have reason to believe, did not obtain an appointment as
such till June 1708, when he was commissioned to the Gaite
sloop of war ; in which vessel he cruised with considerable
success against the enemy's privateers and trade on the Lee-
ward Islands station, until Sept. 28, 1800, when he was
promoted into the Leviathan 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Duckworth, whom he served under at the reduction of
the Swedish and Danish West India colonies, in March,
1801*. He subsequently removed into the Andromeda fri-
gate, and continued to command her till the end of the war,
when he was obliged through ill health to return to Eng-
land.

In April, 1805, our officer was appointed acting Captain of
the Endymion, during the absence ef the Hon. Charles Paget ;
and in that fine frigate, we find him employed off Cadiz under
the gallant Collingvvood.

A few days previous to the arrival of the combined French
and Spanish fleets, Captain King was detached on a particular
service : and when off Cape St. Mary fell in with the enemy,
whose force consisted of twenty-six sail of the line, and nine
frigates. Finding it impracticable to pass a-head of their
line for the purpose of communicating with his Admiral,
whom he had left in shore with only four line-of-battle ships,
and after being chased by two sail of the line and a frigate,
he took up a position in their rear, and by repeated signals

ponderance given by the Dryad's carronades, the British would have been
inferior in guns, aa well as in men and size, to the French frigate. But,
as what the latter wanted in weight of metal was amply made up to her in
number of men, this may be pronounced a tplerably equal match. It
was, without doubt, a well-contested battle j and it was, also, the first
genuine single-ship action of the year (1796) ; no intruding vessel of either
nation having made her appearance during the combat. The Proserpine,
under the name of the Amelia, was admitted into the British navy as a
cruising 38 ; and, from her size and sailing properties, became a valuable
acquisition to her class."

• See Vol. I. note f, at p. 798. N.B. Captain King, in conjunction
with Brigadier-Generals Maitland and Fuller, settled the terms of capitula-
tion. Rear-Adrniral Duckworth, in his last despatch, announcing the
surrender of the islands, says : " I should feel very remiss were I to close
this without mentioning to their Lordships the aid I have received from
my Captain, E. D. King-, in this harrassing service."

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 327

led them to suppose that he was in communication with a
fleet astern. This ruse de guerreh&d the-desired effect ; and
M. Villeneuve, who commanded the combined force, put into
Cadiz, where he was closely reconnoitred by Captain King,
who lost no time in reporting what had occurred to his chief,
whom h.6 joined at the entrance of the Straits. The ability
and zeal which Captain King had thus displayed, were fully
testified by Vice-Admiral Collingwood in his public" des-
patches.

Captain King continued in the Enclymion till the latter end
of 1806. In the following spring he was appointed to the
Monmouth of 64 guris, and ordered to the East Indies ; from
whence he convoyed home a valuable fleet of Indiamen. He
subsequently commanded the Rodney 74, on the Mediter-
ranean station; and in Nov. 1814, was appointed to the
Cornwallis, another third rate, fitting for the flag of Rear-
Admiral Burlton ; buUthe bad state of his health at that pe-
riod preventing him from undertaking a voyage to India, he
resigned the command of that ship previous to her quitting
port ; since which he has been on half pay.

Agents. — Messrs. Barnett and King.

WILLIAM WALLER, ESQ.

THIS officer is a son of the late Captain Jacob Waller,
R. N. * He was made a Lieutenant into the Asia of 64 guns,
soon after the commencement of the French revolutionary
war, and served on shore at the reduction of Martinique
in 1794. On his return to England he joined the Victorious
74, which ship formed part of the squadron under the orders
of Sir George Keith Elphinstone, at the capture of the Cape
of Good Hope, Sept. 16, 1795 t ; and afterwards proceeded
to the East India station.

* At the time of his death (1798), Captain Waller commanded the
Saturn 74, with a squadron under his orders, on the Irish station. He
was taken in a fit whilst at dinner on board his ship, then lying in the
Cove of Cork, and survived only five days. t

f See Vol. I. p. 47, et seq. N. B. Lieutenant Waller on this occasion
was also landed with a party of seamen to co-operate with the army. Pas-
sing through the village of Constantia during the march from Simon's

328 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1801.

On the 9th Sept. 1796, the Victorious, in company with the
Arrogant of 74 guns, had a very severe action off Ceylon,
with six heavy French frigates, commanded by M. de Sercey.
The brunt of this conflict was borne by the Victorious, whose
loss consisted of 17 men killed and 56 wounded ; among the
latter was her commander, Captain William Clarke, whose
place, on his being carried below, was most ably and gallantly
supplied by Lieutenant Waller * : the Arrogant had 7
slain and 27 wounded. Both ships were greatly disabled in
their masts, yards, rigging, and sails ; and the French squa-
dron received so much damage, as to be under the necessity
of proceeding to Batavia, where three out of the six frigates
were compelled to undergo a complete repair. The delay oc-
casioned by this kept de Sercey in port at a very critical season :
and so far the action contributed to preserve from spoliation
much valuable British property, afloat in every part of the
eastern hemisphere.

Jn the following year, Lieutenant Waller was removed into
the Suffolk 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Rainier, by
whom he was made a Commander, and appointed to the Al-
batross of 16 guns, in June 1799 j but that vessel being in the
Red Sea, he acted as Captain of la Sybille frigate, until he
had an opportunity of joining her.

During the night of Nov. 12, 1800, Captain Waller fell in
with, and after a smart action, during which the enemy at-
tempted to carry the Albatross by boarding, captured 1'Adele
French privateer of 12 guns, pierced for 16, with a comple-
ment of 60 men, several of whom were killed and wounded.
On the 24th March, in the following year, he had also the
good fortune to intercept la Gloire of 10 guns, pierced for
18, and 130 men. These marauders had committed great
depredations on our trade ; and their capture was considered
of so much importance, that the Madras Insurance Compa-
nies presented Captain Waller with a sword and a piece of

town, one of the sailors swore, that for once in his life he would

swim in wine; and jumping in the head of a vat, was almost immediately
satiated with that enticing' beverage.

* The first Lieutenant of the Victorious was absent in a prize. For a
detailed account of the action, see James's Nav. Hist. v. 5. p. 432, et seq.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 329

plate, each worth 200 pounds, as a reward for the services he
had thus rendered to their interest *.

Captain Waller's post commission bears date Jan. 8, 1801.
He subsequently commanded the Daedalus of 32 guns ; which
ship returned to England and was paid off inthesummerof 1803.
From the time of his joining the Rose frigate on the New-
foundland station (1789), to this period, he had never been a
day out of active service. His next appointment was pro tern-
pore, to the Norge 74 ; and at the conclusion of the war, we
find him fitting out the Sceptre, of similar force. His brother,
John, commanded the Serpent sloop of war, and was lost
with all his crew on the West India station, in 1807.

Agents. — Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.

HENRY VANSITTART, ESQ.

THIS officer is a son of George Vansittart, Esq., formerly
M. P. for Berkshire (which county he represented many
years), by Sarah, daughter of the late Rev. Sir James Ston-
house, Bart.

He was born at Bisham Abbey, near Marlow, co. Berks ;
entered the naval service under the protection of the late
Admiral Sir George Bowyer f J and served his time as a
Midshipman on board the Pegasus of 28 guns, commanded
by Captain William Domett, on the .Newfoundland station ;
Hannibal 74, Captain John Colpoys, in the Channel ; Rom-
ney 50 ; and Princess Royal 98, bearing the flag of the late
Admiral Goodall; 1'Aigle frigate, Captain Samuel Hoodj
and Victory of 100 guns, the flag ship of Lord Hood ; the
four latter ships employed in the Mediterranean, from whence
he returned to England at the latter end of 1794.

During the siege of Toulon by the republican army, Mr.
Vansittart, although very young, was allowed, after repeated
entreaties, to serve as a volunteer in a floating battery, where

* L'Adele was purchased for the Hon. East India Company, and la
Gloire for the King. The latter was a very fine ship, and had left the
Isle of France with 190 men on board. During her cruise, she took six
British merchantmen, and sunk several others. Seven of her crew were
killed and 15 wounded, before she surrendered to the Albatross,
f See Vol. I. note * at p. 720.

POST-CAPTAINS OV 1801.

he received a very severe wound in the head, from a heavy
oak splinter, which cut through the skull to the thin mem-
brane that covers the brain, and passing on, took off the thigh
of a Spanish bombardier. He was at the same time slightly
wounded in several places by smaller splinters *. In 1794,
we find Mr. Vansittart employed for several weeks in an open
boat belonging to 1' Aigle, at the siege of Calvi ; on which ser-
vice he was also a volunteer. For his zealous conduct and
severe sufferings at this early period of life, he was rewarded
with a Lieutenant's commission, and appointed to the Stately
of 64 guns, in Feb. 1795.

The Stately formed part of the squadron under Sir George
Keith Elphinstone, at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope,
in Sept. 1795. During the operations carried on against that
colony, Lieutenant Vansittart commanded a company of sea-
men belonging to the second naval battalion, landed to assist
the army. The Stately was subsequently ordered to assist in
reducing Columbo ; but that place appears to have surrender-
ed whilst she was at Trincomalee. Previous to her quitting
the Indian seas, the scurvy made such ravages among her
crew, as obliged her to put into St. Augustin's bay, Madagas-
car, where Lieutenant Vansittart had the charge of preparing
tenta for the use of the sick, more than 100 of whom were
unable to move from their hammocks. The disease being at
length subdued, she returned to the Cape of Good Hope in
time to assist at the capture of a Dutch squadron in Saldanha
bay; after which the subject of this memoir returned to Eng-
land as signal Lieutenant of the Monarch 74, bearing the flag
of Sir George K. Elphinstone, under whom he continued to
serve in that ship and the Queen Charlotte, a first rate^ till
the commencement of 1798, when he was appointed first
Lieutenant of the Maidstone frigate, commanded by Captain
(now Rear- Admiral) Donnelly. r;-*.t1

» The floating battery mounted four heavy guns and two brass mor-
tars, the latter of which were worked by Spanish bombardiers. She was
commanded by Lieutenant Moriencourt of the Princess Royal, who had
2 midshipman and 48 men under his orders. The first of the enemy's
batteries to which she was opposed, was soon effectually silenced ; but the
fire from a second, erected on a rising ground, proved so destructive that
only 9 men were left fit for duty ou board the float.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 331

Lieutenant Vansittart was promoted to the rank of Com-
mander in the Hermes sloop of Avar, about Aug. 1/98 ; re-
moved into the Bonetta about Oct. following ; and during the
ensuing year, was employed convoying the trade to and from
Newfoundland and America, [n 1800, he captured several of
the enemy's armed vessels on the Jamaica station, where he
obtained post rank in the Abergavenny of 54 guns. He
subsequently commanded the Thunderer 74, and Magicienne
frigate ; the former returned to Europe with the squadron under
Sir Robert Calder, who had gone to the West Indies in pursuit
of the French fleet under M. Gantheaume ; the latter was
employed conveying a number of disbanded Dutch troops
from Lyrnington and Jersey, to. the Texel and Helvoetsluys,
after the peace of Amiens. His post commission bears date
Feb. 3, 1801.

At the renewal of the war in 1803, Captain Vansittart com-
missioned the Fortune e frigate, and during the remainder of
the year we find him blockading the rivers Elbe and Weser,
and cruising off Boulogne. On the 2d Feb. 1804, he sailed for
the Jamaica station, where he was most actively employed
upwards of four years ; during which, and the two years pre-
viously spent there, he had three severe attacks of the yellow
fever *.

In the summer of 1806, Captain Vansittart sailed for England,
in company with the Surveillante frigate^ Hercule 74, an armed
schooner, and a large fleet of merchantmen. When off the
Havannah, a number of Spanish vessels were discovered, un-
der the protection of a J4-gun ship and two gun-boats. The
Fortune e was immediately detached in pursuit by signal from
the senior officer, Captain (now Rear-Admiral) John Bligh,
and assisted by the schooner, succeeded in capturing the gun-
boats, and upwards of twenty sail, deeply laden with sugar, &c.

* When the yellow fever made its appearance on board the Fortune*e,
Captain Vansittart was about to return to Jamaica from a cruise off the
Havannah. Six men having died before he cleared the Gulf of Florida, he
pushed for the Bermudas, and landed all the sick on one of those islands,
\vhich being uninhabited was humanely lent to him for that purpose by
Mr. Tucker, the President (the Governor being absent). The fever went
through the whole of his crew, but fortunately not a man died of that
disorder from the time of his arrival there, nor indeed during the re-
mainder of his stay in the West Indies.

332 POST-CAPTAIXS OF 1801.

The line-of-battle ship being close in with the Havannali,
succeeded in effecting her escape. Captain Vansittart on this
occasion exhibited a noble spirit of disinterestedness, by de-
stroying the whole of those valuable prizes, in order that the
convoy might not be detained, although the Spaniards offered
to bring off from the shore in the course of twelve hours a
sum sufficient to ransom them. A few days after this event,
he obtained intelligence that six French ships of the line were
cruising to intercept the homeward bound fleet ; this squadron
was subsequently seen, but successfully avoided through the
able management of Captain Bligh and his brother officers.

Among the vessels taken by the Fortunee during her va-
rious cruises in the West In<Jies, we find le Vautour, French
privateer ; a Spanish brig laden with cocoa ; le Grand Juge
Bertolio, French schooner, of 7 guns and 51 men ; and two
Spanish feluccas laden with beef and flour : the latter were
destroyed.

In 180J, and the three succeeding years, Captain Vansittart
was employed on Channel service, and the Irish station.
Towards the latter end of 1810 he conveyed Rear- Admiral
Freemantle to the Mediterranean ; and after serving for some
weeks with the in- shore squadron off Toulon, was ordered to
Algiers, where he embarked an ambassador, with presents
from the Dey to our late Sovereign. Whilst there he was
presented with a sword, some other trifling articles, and a bag
of dollars ; the latter he instantly returned to the Dey, at the
same time informing him that a British officer would never
receive money for his own use from any foreign power, but
that the sword he should retain, and ever value as a mark of
the honor conferred on him by his Highness.

On the llth Oct. 1811, Captain Vansittart, being on a
cruise to the westward, with the Saldanha frigate under his
orders, fell in with and captured the famous French ship pri-
vateer le Vice-Amiral Martin, of 18 guns and 140 men; a
vessel which, by the superiority of her sailing, and the dexte-
rity of her manoeuvres, had often escaped from other British
cruisers, and committed great depredations on our commerce.
In the spring of 1812 he was appointed to the Clarence 74 ;
and from that period till the conclusion of the war he appears to
havebeen employed blockading the Texel, Brest, and Rochefort.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 333

We cannot close this memoir without remarking that the
subject of it, with the exception of a very few months in
1802-3, was never a day out of commission from the summer
of 1791, when he first Avent to sea, till the peace of 1814, a
period of twenty-three years.

Captain Vansittart married, in 1809, a daughter of the Rev.
John Pennefather, by whom he has three sons and two daugh-
ters now living. His surviving brothers are George Henry,
a General in the army, and Edward, in holy orders ; the latter
has added the surname of Neale to that of his own family.
His first cousin, the Right Hon. Nicholas Vansittart, many
years Chancellor of his Majesty's Exchequer, an upright
statesman, and an amiable private character, has recently been
created a peer, by the title of Baron Bexleyr

Agent. — Thomas Stillwell, Esq.

GEORGE MUNDY, ESQ.

A Companion of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath ; and

M. P. for Boroughbridge, in Yorkshire.

THIS officer is a son of the late Edwfird Miller Mundy, Esq.
many years M. P. for Derbyshire, by Frances, daughter of
Godfrey Meynell, Esq. of Yeldersley, in the same county *.

* The Mundys of Derbyshire are an ancient and most respectable
family, branches of which resided at Mocketon and Quardon. Their
estates were considerable, and they still flourish at Mackworth, near
Derby, and at Marton. Edward Mundy, Esq. was M. P. for the town of
Derby in 1710 and 1713j W. Mundy, Esq. represented Leicestershire
in 1741.

The late Edward Miller Mundy, Esq. by his union with Miss Meynell,
had six children ; viz. first, Frances, married Lord Charles Fitzroy, brother
of the Duke of Grafton, a General in the army, and Colonel of the 48th
regiment; whose son married Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Charles,
fourth Duke of Richmond. Second, Edward Miller, a magistrate for the
county of Derby. Third, Godfrey Basil, a Major-General, married Sarah,
daughter of the celebrated Admiral Lord Rodney. Fourth, George, the
subject of this memoir. Fifth, Frederick, Rector of Winston upon Tees,
in the county of Durham. Sixth, Henry, in the service of the Hon. East
India Company. Mr. Mundy's second lady was Georgiana, widow of
Thomas, fourth Lord Middleton, by whom he had a daughter, who married,
in 1807, Henry, the present Duke of Newcastle. By his third marriage
(with Catherine, relict of Richard Barwell, Esq. of Stanstead, co. Sussex),
he left an infant son. Mr. Mundy died in 1822, breathing his last on the
evening of his natal day, aged 72 years.

334 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.

He was born Mar. 3, 1777 5 a"d after completing his studies
at the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth, embarked as a
Midshipman on board the Blanche frigate, commanded by
the late Vice-Admiral Christopher Parker, whom he accom-
panied to the West Indies ; from whence he was obliged to
return home without loss of time, in consequence of a severe
illness, occasioned by fatigue and wet during an excursion in
the island of Teneriffe. We subsequently find him serving
on board the Victory, a first rate, and Juno of 32 guns.

On the llth Jan. 1794, the Juno had a very singular es-
cape from capture at Toulon, the particulars of which will be
found in our memoir of Captain W. H. Webley Parry, C. B.
She afterwards assisted at the reduction of. St. Fiorenzo in
Corsica, and Mr. Mundy appears to have borne a constant
share in all the laborious operations carried on during the
siege of that place.

After the capture of St. Fiorenzo Mr. Mundy removed with
his Captain, the late Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, into
1'Aigle frigate, and was present in her at the reduction of Bastia
and Calvi. He then proceeded to the Archipelago, and on
that station completed his time as a Midshipman. His first
commission bears date Jan. 27, 1796.

As a Lieutenant, Mr. Mundy was successively appointed to
the St. George and Blenheim second rates ; Victory of 100
guns ; and Goliah 74, on the Mediterranean station.

The Blenheim formed part of the fleet under Sir John Jer-
vis in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1/97 5 on which
memorable occasion she had 12 men killed and 45 wounded.
The Goliah had the distinguished honor of leading Sir Hora-
tio Nelson's squadron into action on the glorious 1st Aug.
1798; and during the conflict sustained a loss of 21 killed
and 41 wounded*. On the 24th Dec. following Lieutenant
Mundy was promoted to the rank of Commander, in the Trans-
fer brig of 14 guns.

Early in March 1799, the Transfer was detached from the
fleet off Cadiz, to cruise in company with the Majestic 74,
between Malaga and Cape de Gatt. A few days after they fell
in with a French privateer of the same force as the Transfer,
and chased her into a small bay, where she obtained shelter

» See vol. I. p. 364 and 365.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 335

under a circular fort mounting three 24 pounders. The boats
of the Majestic were sent in to destroy her, but failed in the
attempt. The next day, however, the Transfer having an-
chored abreast of the fort to cover them, they succeeded in
boarding and setting her on fire.

From this period Captain Mundy was constantly engaged
in operations of no small difficulty and hazard, till the autumn
of 1800, when he was appointed to the Swan sloop of war on
the home station ; in which vessel he remained until promoted
to post rank, Feb. 10, 1801. His subsequent appointments
were to the Vengeance /4, Carysfort 28, and Hydra of 38 guns.

Captain Mundy obtained the command of the Hydra at a
time when Napoleon Buonaparte was meditating the invasion
of Great Britain ; and that frigate was one of those selected
to watch the French coast, on which anxious and fatiguing
service she continued from July 1803, until the summer of
1804, but without any thing remarkable occurring except the
capture of two or three small privateers. Captain Mundy
afterwards convoyed a fleet of merchantmen to Malta, and
then proceeded to join Lord Nelson off Cape St. Sebastian,
on the coast of Spain.

In April 1805, when Nelson went down the Mediterranean
in pursuit of the French squadron which had escaped from
Toulon, the Hydra was left under the orders of the Hon.
Captain Capel, to assist in protecting* Sardinia, Sicily, &c.
from the designs of the enemy. On Nelson's return from the
West Indies, his Lordship received a letter from Vice- Admiral
Collingwood, in which we find the following mention made
of the subject of this memoir — " / am exceedingly pleased
with Captain Mundy of the Hydra. His vigilance and
activity are exemplary ; he is a clever young man."

To the great mortification of Captain Mundy, who had
been employed for some time blockading the port of Cadiz,
he was detached to procure water, stores, and provisions, at
Tetuan and Gibraltar, but a very few days before the sailing
of the combined fleets, and thus prevented being present at a
battle which gave the death blow to Buonaparte's favourite
scheme of obtaining the empire of the sea.

After this great event, Captain Mundy was directed by
Nelson's gallant successor to take a station off Cadiz light-

336 POST-CAPTAINS OP 1801.

house, with the Moselle of 18 guns under his orders, for the
purpose of closely watching four French frigates, then lying
ready for sea in that harbour. His vigilance in the execution
of this duty was soon rewarded by the capture of a fine French
brig mounting 18 guns, with a complement of 132 men. The
following is a copy of his official letter on the subject, dated
Feb. 27, 180G:—

" My Lord, — I have the honor to represent, that last evening at a
quarter after nine o'clock, Cadiz light-house bearing East three miles, while
standing in shore with a strong easterly wind, we discovered the enemy's
squadron of frigates already outside of us, the Moselle making the signal
for them at the same moment. I instantly bore up, intending to steer on a
parallel with the enemy, in order to watch their movements . We had the sa-
tisfaction to find that we gained upon them. At eleven, seeing they steered
a steady course, I commenced firing alarm guns, and throwing up rockets,
and ordered Captain Carden (whose attention and assistance has been very
great during the short time be has been under my orders) to steer W. by
N. in order to give your Lordship the intelligence. At thirty minutes
after two I found we had closed the squadron considerably, in consequence
of their having altered their course a point to the westward ; and on ob-
serving one of them to be much astern of the others, I thought it very
possible to cut her off; therefore hauled up, and after a chase of two
hours, succeeded in coming up with her, when she fired a broadside at our
rigging, and surrendered. I find her to be le Furet, French man of war
brig, commanded by Monsieur Demay, (Lieutenant de Vaisscau) mount-
ing 18 long 9-pounders, but pierced for 20 guns, with a complement of
132 men, only four years old, and of the largest dimensions, stored and
victualled for five months, of all species. The remaining part of the
squadron, at the time we chased the above vessel, bore about S. E. by S. by
compass, and were steering W. N. W. Cape St. Mary distant forty miles.
From the prisoners we learn that the squadron consisted of PHortense,
la Themis, la Rhin, and 1'Hermione frigates, and le Furet, captured by H.
M. S. Hydra. The frigates are provisioned and stored for six months,
and have each 700 men on board, the greater part soldiers. I have the
honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " G. MUNDY."

" The Right Honourable Lord Collingwood,
$c. $c. 8fc."

On the 28th April following. Captain Mundy, after a chase
of two hundred and thirty miles, captured the Spanish King's
schooner Argonauta, pierced for 12 guns, but having only 4
mounted, bound to Buenos Ayres with despatches. He sub-
sequently escorted a fleet of transports to Sicily ; conveyed
the British Consul to Algiers ; attacked and dispersed a
division of gun- boats on the coast of Grenada, taking one and

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 337

driving another on shore ; and captured the Tigre, a Spanish
schooner letter of marque. On the 6th Aug. 1807, he chased
three armed polacres into the harbour of Begu, on the coast
of Catalonia, and having reconnoitred them on the following
morning, deemed an attempt on them practicable, although
they were under the protection of a battery, mounting four
26-pounders, and a tower on one side of the anchorage, and
of rocks and bushes admirably calculated for musketry on the
other. At fifty minutes past noon the Hydra was anchored,
with springs on her cables, at the entrance of the port, and
began the attack. A smart fire was returned by the enemy,
which however considerably slackened after somewhat more
than an hour's action ; on perceiving which, Captain Mundy
ordered 50 seamen and marines, under the command of
Lieutenant Edward O'Brien Drury, to land on the flank of
the enemy, and drive them from their guns, whilst the frigate
kept up a heavy fire to cover the boats as they approached
the shore. Disregarding the heavy fire to which they were
exposed from the shipping and fort, as well as musketry from
the rocks, the detachment mounted the cliff which was most
.difficult of access, and attacked the fort with such intrepidity,
that the enemy did not think proper to await their closing,
but spiking the guns, rushed out on the one side as the as-
sailants entered on the other. The bravery and success of
his men on shore gave Captain Mundy an opportunity of em-
ploying the Hydra's broadside solely on the polacres, from
which a constant fire was still kept up on the land party.
On gaining the battery, Lieutenant Drury advanced with the
seamen and a few marines to the town, leaving the remainder
of his people to retain possession of the guns, and to occupy
the heights that commanded the decks of the vessels. As soon
as the town was cleared of the enemy, the crews of the po-
lacres landed and formed in groups among the rocks and
bushes, firing on the British seamen, who had now seized the
boats on the beach, and were boarding the vessels, while
another part of the enemy had gained a height above the
marines, and kept them engaged, notwithstanding some guns
were continually playing on them from the Hydra. At half-
past three, observing Lieutenant Drury in full possession of
the polacres, Captain Mundy sent the rest of the boats under

VOL. II. Z

338 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.

Lieutenant James Little, to assist in towing them out ; and
soon after had the satisfaction of seeing them rounding the
point ; when the marines, commanded by Lieutenants Hayes
and Pengelly, re-embarked under a heavy discharge of mus-
ketry, the enemy having collected a considerable force to
harrass them in their retreat. The following is an extract
from Captain Mundy's unassuming narration of this dashing
enterprise, in a letter to Lord Collingwood.

" When I review the circumstances attending the embarkation of this
handful of men, and reflect on the many difficulties they had to surmount
in an attack on a fort strongly defended by nature as well as art, then op-
posed to more than three times their own force for two hours, succeeding
in possessing themselves of the vessels, and deliberately laying out hawsers
to the very rocks that were occupied by the enemy, and warping them out
against a fresh breeze, exposed to a galling fire of musketry ; I feel per-
fectly incapable of writing a panegyric equal to their merits : but it has
not required this exploit to stamp these officers with the character of cool
judgment and determined bravery. During the term of four years, I have
witnessed frequent instances of the gallantry of Lieutenants Drury and
Hayes ; and Lieutenant Pengelly (though not of so long a standing in the
Hydra) has ever been a volunteer on such services. I have also the great-
est pleasure in adding, that the above mentioned officers speak in enthusi-
astic terms of the behaviour of all employed under them. To your Lord-
ship's notice and protection, therefore, I beg most strongly to recommend
them. The conduct of the rest of the officers and ship's company fully
equalled my utmost wishes : to the tremendous fire they kept up I attri-
bute the smallness of our loss and damage, namely, 1 killed and 2 wounded
ou board, and 4 wounded of the detachment ; the fore and mizt-n- top-
masts, and fore-top-sail-yard shot through, a few shot in the hull, and the
rigging triflingly cut*."

The following are copies of Lord Collingwood'a reply, and
a letter from Rear-Admiral Purvis, expressive of the appro-
bation of the board of Admiralty : —

" Ocean, off Sicily, \3th Oct. 1807.

" Sir. — I received with infinite satisfaction your letter of the /th Aug.,
relating your proceedings on that day, when you attacked and captured
three of the enemy's armed ships in the port of Begu, where they were
securely moored in a narrow harbour, and defended by a battery of consi-
derable force. The gallantry with which this service was achieved in all its
parts, both on board the Hydra, and by the party which lauded under
Lieutenant Drury's command, was worthy of the judicious arrangement

* The prizes proved to be the Prince Eugene of 16 twelve-pounders,
and 130 men ; Belle Caroline 10 nine-pounders, 40 men ; and Rosario
4 six-pounders, 20 men.

POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801. 339

which was made at the commencement ; and will doubtless be as highly
satisfactory to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, as it is gratify-
ing to me, to lay the high merits of the officers and ship's company of the
Hydra before their Lordships. I am, Sir, with great esteem, &c. &c. &c-
" Captain Mundy, Hydra.'1 (Signed) " COLLINGWOOD."

"Atlas, off Cadiz, 30th Oct. 1807.

" Sir. — Having transmitted to iny Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty a copy of your letter to Lord Collingwood, dated the 7th of Aug.
last, giving his Lordship an account of the very gallant attack made by
you in his Majesty's ship Hydra, on three of the enemy's privateers, which
had been chased into the Spanish port of Begu, and by a party of the
seamen and marines under the direction of Lieutenant Drury, who after
having gained possession of the battery which defended the harbour, and
driven the enemy from the town, succeeded in capturing and bringing
away the above privateers, with a trifling loss on the part of the captors ; 1
have their Lordships directions to express to you their satisfaction at the
successful manner in which this enterprising attempt was planned and ex-
ecuted ; and their approbation of the good conduct and gallantry displayed
by you and the officers and men of the Hydra, and particularly by
Lieutenant Drury, and the other officers, seamen, and marines, who were
engaged with him on this occasion ; to all of whom you will be pleased to
make known their Lordships' high approbation. I have the honor to be,
&c. &c. &c.

" Captain Mundy, Hydra-" (Signed) " J. C. PURVIS."

On the 2/th Feb. in the following year, Captain Mundy
being on a cruise off Carthagena, discovered six ships of the
line coming out of that harbour. Awarje of the importance of
ascertaining the enemy's destination, he diligently observed
their movements ; and although from foggy and blowing
weather, and other untoward circumstances, he frequently
lost sight of them, yet by dint of perseverance and good
judgment, he succeeded in dogging them until they anchored
off Palma, the capital of Majorca, from whence, after watch-
ing them for several days without perceiving any disposition
on their part to stir, he sailed to Gibraltar, to refit his frigate
and complete her stores.

The Hydra, however, had by this time become scarcely
sea-worthy, and a temporary repair being considered insuffi-
cient, the commander-in-chief found it expedient to send her
home with upwards of 100 sail of merchant vessels under her
protection, the whole of which arrived safely in England
about the middle of July.

Towards the latter end of November 1808, the Hydr

340 POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.

having undergone a complete repair, Captain Mundy was
ordered to convoy the outward bound trade to the Mediter-
ranean ; and soon after his arrival there we find him em-
ployed on the coast of Catalonia with the Leonidas frigate
and some smaller vessels under his orders, for the purpose of
assisting the Spaniards, who had already manifested much
courage in resisting the aggressions of the French forces in
that province. Captain Mundy commenced his operations
by attacking the enemy's detachments passing from the east-
ward to Barcelona. The following is a copy of his first re-
port to Lord Collingwood, dated Feb. 1, 1809 : —

" MY LORD. — According to the orders of Vice-Admiral Thornbrough,
I have sent the Cyane to Minorca, to receive any instructions or orders
that may be there for me ; and I take the occasion to represent to your
Lordship, that on receiving information on the 30th inst. that the French
troops under the Governor of Barcelona, General Lecchi, had taken pos-
session of Mataro but two days before, I immediately shaped a course for
that place ; but observing a party of French erecting a battery on Mongat,
I anchored the ships, and drove them from their woflc ; and finding that
the station was extremely eligible in point of preventing the plunder and
'ammunition of the army from getting to Barcelona, as we completely
com